OF THE 



:w?'' 






^^ V 



V 



.H -n* 







WASHINGTON TAKING COMMAND Ob' THE AKMY. 



A 



SCHOOL HISTOEY 



OF THE 



UNITED STATES, 



SUSAN PENDLETON LEE, 

AUTHOR OF "LIFE OF GENERAL, WILLIAM N. PENDLETON." 
WITH 

Questions and Summaries for Reviews and Essays, 

BY 



LOUISE MANLY, 



TEAOHEH OF LITERAXrRE AND LANGUAGES AND AUTHOR OF " SOUTHERN 
LITERATURE." 



JUL 17 1895 



KICHMOND, VA.: 

B. F. JOHNSON PUBLISHING COMPANY, 

1895- 



Copyright, 1895, by Susan Pendleton Lee. 






^i^ 



PREFACE. 



This Histoky has been prepared with the desire to give the 
children and youth of the United States, and especially those of 
the Southern States, a fair and just and interesting- account of 
the whole country from Maine to Texas and California. 

Most of the School Histories now in use tell in detail the story 
of the northern half of the country, while only a few chapters are 
devoted to its southern half. In this book, an honest effort is 
made to speak truthfully of both without sectional passion or 
prejudice. 

Adding the history of the Southern States and of the Civil 
War, to what is told in other School Histories, has necessarily 
made this volume larger. After all possible condensation, it has 
not been found i:)racticable to compress truth into a smaller com- 
pass without reducing it to a dry compendium of facts and dates 
utterly devoid of interest, and impossible to remember. 

A list of some of the principal authorities for the statements 
made is appended to each chapter. Many, many besides these 
have been carefully consulted. The figures and accounts of the 
Civil War have been taken with great care from the " Official 
Records of the Union and Confederate Armies," published by the 
United States War Department in Washington, and can be fully 
substantiated by reference to them. 

The Author acknowledges gratefully the valuable assistance she 
has received from the Libraries of Washington and Lee University 
and the Virginia Military Institute. She is also specially indebted 
to Professor Henry Alexander White and Hon. William A. Anderson 
of Lexington, and to Mr. Rosewell Page of Richmond, Va., for the 
helpful and important aid given by them in examining and criti- 
cising her manuscript. 

A Southern Book, in the writing and publication, it is hoped 
that it may commend itself especially to the Southern public, 
while exciting no prejudice, nor eliciting harsh criticism from 
Northern readers. 

Lexington, Viugixia, 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



First Period— Discovery and Settlement, 985-1688. 

Chapter. * Pagb. 

I. Discovery and Naming of the New World 9 

II. The American Indians 1^ 

III. Settlement of Virginia ^^^■ 

IV. Settlement of New England ^2 

V. Settlement of New York, New Jersey, and Delaware 38 

Vl. Settlement of Maryland • 41 

VII. Virginia and Maryland under the Connnonwealth 44 

VIII. New England under the Commonwealth— The Quakers 49 

IX. Virginia after the Restoration •'^'^ 

X. Bacon's Rebellion ^2 

XL Northern Colonies after the Restoration— Settlement of the 



Carolinas. 



67 



XII. Settlement of Pennsylvania '^^ 

XIII. Colonies under James II "^^ 

XIV. The Colonies in 1688 81 

XV. The French in the North and West 89 

Summary for Reviews and Essays 95 

Second Period— French, and Indian Wars, 1689-1T63. 

XVI. King William's and Queen Anne's AVars 100 

XVII. The Colonies under George 1 104 

XVIII. Settlement of Georgia HO 

XIX. Settlement of the Valley of Virginia— The French in the West 118 

XX. Opening of the Colonial War 133 

XXI. Colonial War 138 

XXII. Indian Wars 1^^ 

Summary for Reviews and Essays 136 

Third Period— The Revolution, 1763-1783. 

XXIII. Causes of the American Revolution 138 

XXIV The Colonies in 1760-75— Settlement of Kentucky and Teu- 

141 
nessee. .-. 

XXV. First Continental Congress— Indian Wars in Virginia 151 

XXVI. Opening of the Revolution 1'''''' 

XXVII. Battle of Bunker Hill • • • - l**^ 

[5.1 



6 Table of Contents. 

Chapter. Page. 

XXVIII. Invasion of Canada— Fall of Boston 166 

XXIX. Southern Colonies — Declaration of Independence 169 

XXX. Defence of Charleston — Battles around New York 175 

XXXI. Aid from France— Battles around Philadelphia 180 

XXXII. Burgoyne's Campaign and Surrender 184 

XXXIII. Valley Forge— Monmouth— Wyoming 188 

XXXIV. French Fleet— Cherokee ^Xa,T in the South 193 

XXXV. Clarke's Taking of the Northwest 196 

XXXVI. Stony Point — Savannah and Charleston 201 

XXXVII. Arnold's Treachery— The War in the South 206 

XXXVIII. King's Mountain 209 

XXXIX. Cowpens— Guilford — Eutaw Springs S13 

XL. The War in Virginia 218 

XLI. Victory at Yorktown— John Paul Jones 222 

Summary for Reviews and Essays 229 

Fourth Period— Under the Constitution, 1783-1861. 

XLII. Condition of the Thirteen States in 1783 233 

XLIII. The Federal Convention of 1787 237 

XLIV. Continental Congress — Beginning of Constitutional Govern- 
ment. 242 

XLV. Washington's Administration — Vermont and Kentucky be- 
come States ~ 246 

XLVI. Washington's Administration, continued — Difficulties with 

France and England — Washington's Death 250 

XLVII. Adams's Administration — Progress of the Country 255 

XLVIII. Jefferson's Administration — Purchase of Louisiana — Ex- 
tinction of Slave Trade 261 

XLIX. Madison's Administration— War of 1812 266 

L. Madison's Administration, continued— Defeat of Great Bri- 
tain 271 

LI. ]\Ionroe's Administration — Missouri Compromise 276 

LII. Monroe's Administration, continued — John Quincy Adams's 

Administration 382 

LIII. Andrew Jackson's Administration — Nulfification 285 

LIV. Jackson's Administration, continued — Continued Agitation 

of the Slavery Question 289 

LV. Van Buren's Admini'stration — General Harrison's Death. . . . 294 

LVI. Tyler's Administration — Annexation of Texas 298 

LVII. Polk's Administration — Mexican War 303 

LVIII. Polk's Administration — Mexican War, continued ' 309 

LIX. Sectional Antagonism — Taylor's Administration 313 



Table of Contents. 7 

Chapter. Page. 

TiX. Fllluiore'.s Adininislratioii — Foreign Immigration 319 

LXI. Pierce's Administration — Kansas Troubles — Advance in Sci- 
ence 324 

LXII. Buchanan's Administration — Sectional Discord — John 

Brown's Raid 333 

Summary for Reviews and Essays 340 

Fifth Period— Civil War and Reconstruction, 1861-1895. 

LXIII. Election of Abraham Lincoln — Secession of South Carolina 
and the Gulf States — Formation of Confederate States 

Government 34G 

LXIV. Lincoln's Administration — Beginning of the Civil War — 

Causes of the War 355 

LXV. Lincoln's Administration, continued — Call for 75,00 men- 
Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas Secede, 361 
LXVI. Invasion of Virginia — Battles of Big Bethel, Rich Mountain, 

First Manassas, Ball's Bluff 369 

LXVII. War in Missouri — Battles of Wilson's Springs and Belmont. 379 
LXVIII. Fighting in Kentucky — Surrender of Fort Henry and Fort 

Donelson— Battles of Pea Ridge and Shiloh 387 

LXIX. Capture of Roanoke Island — Naval Fight in Hampton Roads ; 
Armies in the Peninsula — Battles of Williamsburg and 

Seven Pines 394 

LXX. Jackson's Valley Campaign — Battles of McDowell, Win- 
chester, Cross Keys, I'ort Republic, Seven Daj^s' Battles 

Around Richmond 402 

LXXI. Pope's Campaign — Lee in Maryland — ^ Battles of Sharpsburg 

and Fredericksburg 411 

LXXII. Capture of New Orleans — Confederate Advance into Ken- 
tucky — Battles of Richmond, Perryville, luka, and Corinth, 421 

LXXIII. Emancipation Proclamation — Scarcity in the South 433 

LXXIV. Affairs on the Coast — Battle of Chancellorsville 440 

LXXV. Lee in Pennsylvania — Gettysburg — Campaign of Strategy. . 448 

LXXVI. Siege and Svu-render of Vicksburg 457 

LXXVII. Cavalry Raids — Battles of Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, 

Missionary Ridge 463 

LXXVIII. Small Confederate Successes — Banks's Red River Expedi- 
tion^ — Battle of Mansfield — Battles of The Wilderness, 

Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, New Market 473 

LXXIX. Sherman's Advance upon Atlanta — Fall of Atlanta — Hood's 
Advance into Tennessee — Battles of Franklin and Nash- 
ville 485 



8 Table of Contents. 

Chapter. Page. 
LXXX. Grant Crosses James River — Siege of Petersburg — Earlj^'s 
Advance into Maryland— Battles of INIonocacy, Winches- 
ter, Cedar Creek — Sheridan's Destruction of the Valley. . 495 
LXXXI. Sherman's March to the Sea — Devastation of Georgia — Re- 
election of Abraham Lincoln 505 

LXXXII. Siege of Petersburg, continued — Capture of Fort Fisher — 
Sherman's March and Devastations in the Carolinas — 

Evacuation of Petersburg 514 

LXXXIII. Surrender at Appomattox — Assassination of President Lin- 
coln — Close of Civil War — Imprisonment of Jefferson 

Davis 526 

LXXXIV. Reconstruction Period — Administration of Andrew John- 
son — Oppression and Robbery in the South — Thirteenth 

and Fourteenth Amendments 538 

LXXXV. Reconstruction, continued — Impeachment of Andrew John- 
son — Fifteenth Amendment— Ku Klux — Force Bill — The 

South slowly regains its rights 547 

LXXXVI. Notable Events from 1866 to 1876 555 

LXXXYII. Events from 1876 to 1895 564 

LXXXYIII. Progress since 1850 — Colleges— Literature 572 

Summary for Reviews and Essays 579 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 



DISCOVERY AND SETTLEMENT, 985-1688. 



CHAPTER I. 

DISCOVERY. 



Legends of Discovery. — The continent of America was 
practically unknown to the rest of the world until four hun- 
dred years ago, although there were some legends concern- 
ing a strange land in the Western sea. One of these said 
that Hanno, of Carthage, had been driven v/estward by 
storms, B. C. 300, and had seen a new and terrible shore. 
Another told of Madoc,a Welsh prince, who had sailed toward 
the setting sun and established himself in a goodly country. 

Eric and Leif, 985 A. D. — The first certain knowledge of 
the fabled la.nd was when the Iceland "Vikings" or "Sea 
Rovers," in their long ships moved by oars as well as sails, 
led by Eric the Red, discovered and settled on the south- 
ern coast of Greenland, about 985 A. D. The bold Norse- 
men sailed southward from Greenland and coasted along 
the eastern shore of North America. Attracted by their 
report of the land they had seen, Leif, the son of Eric, fol- 
lowed his father to Greenland. Then he, too, sailed south- 
ward. Entering one of the bays of the coast, he found a 
country fair to his eyes, where grapes were so plentiful that 
he called the place " Vinland the Good." This was probably 
in Massachusetts or Rhode Island. 

Settlement in Vinland. — For twelve years, ships continued 
to come from Greenland to Vinland, and the settlement suc- 
ceeded well. The Pope appointed a Bishop for it, as he had 
done before for Greenland ; and Gudrid, the wife of one of 
the bold seamen, came and lived there for three years. 

Western Land Forgotten. — How the settlements in America 
died out and w^ere forgotten, we do not know, but for several 
hundred years all knowledge of the western land passed away. 

Advance of Learning. — Men's minds were, however, be- 
coming more enlightened. The truth that the world was round 

[9] 



10 



History of the United States. 




like a ball, and not flat, was gradually coming to be believed. 
The mariner's compass was being more and more used, so 
that long voyages were not so dangerous and uncertain. 
God's providence was preparing the way for the permanent 
discovery of the New World. Christopher Columbus, of 
Genoa, in Italy, was the man who brought it to the definite 
knowledge of the Old World. 

Christopher Columbus and His Plan. — Columbus was born 
in 1435. Of his early life we know little, but are told that 
he was eager for knowledge, of an adven- 
turous disposition, and that he became a 
sailor when only thirteen. Studying what- 
ever came in his way about geography as 
then known, Columbus became convinced 
that the world was round, and that by sail- 
ing westward he must come to the shores 
of Asia, which had been visited by Marco 
Polo and other travellers, going always east- 
coj^ujuiiu-i. ward. Columbus was too poor to prepare 

for such a voyage, and he tried to persuade first the king of 
Portugal and then the king of Spain to assist him, and also 
sent his brother to England to ask King Henry VII. to fur- 
nish him with the means for it. 

Voyage of Columbus and Discovery of America, 1492. — At 
last Queen 



Isabella of 
Spain became 
so much inter- 
ested in Co- 
lumbus a n d 
his projects 
that she is 
even said t o 
have pledged 
her jewels to 
raise money for him 




LANDING OF COLUMBUS. 



Her husband. King Ferdinand, joined 
her, and three small vessels, the Pirda, the Nina, and the 
Santa Maria, were fitted out and sailed, with ninety men, un- 
der command of Columbus, from Palos, in Spain, on August 
3, 1492. . It was a bold act. No one had ever crossed the 
unknown sea before them. The sailors soon became very 



Discovery ' 11 

uneasy and greatly alarmed, but Columbus was full of courage 
and he cheered and encouraged them, and after two months 
there were signs on the waters which made him think they 
were reaching land. He kept an anxious watch, and in the 
early morning of October 12th there was a joyful cry from 
the outlook on the Pinta of "Land! Land!" It proved to 
be one of the Bahama Islands. 

" Indians " — Return of Columbus to Spain. — From this first 
island Columbus sailed along the coasts of Cuba and Hayti, 
landing at various places, examining the country and col- 
lecting specimens of plants, birds and animals to take back 
to Spain. He thought he had come to Japan, Cipango as 
it was then called, or some other part of Asia, probably 
India; and he called the simple, kindly people of the 
islands, " Indians." Several of these also were carried back 
to Spain. When the little fleet returned to Palos, not quite 
eight months after leaving it, there was great excitement 
and rejoicing; and Columbus was welcomed by the king 
and queen with much ceremony, and loaded with honors. 
His fame and success excited interest in all the maritime 
countries of Europe. 

The Spanish Search for Gold. — There was no more diffi 
culty in his procuring men and ships in abundance. The 
one thing the Spaniards were after was gold. They did not 
want to establish prosperous colonies and become rich, 
gradually, by honest work. They wanted to gather wealth 
at once and return to Europe to squander it. 

Ill Treatment of Columbus — Discovery of South America. 
There was little gold to be found in the islands, and soon 
the disappointment of the Spaniards led to quarrels and 
strife. The lailure of their hopes made them hostile to 
Columbus. They accused him of many misdeeds. He lost 
favor at court, and was treated with indignity instead of 
honor. In his third voyage he saw the coast of South 
America, but never visited North America. 

Death of Columbus, 1506. — From this voyage he was sent 
to Bpain in fetters, and died in 1506, at the age of seventy, 
poor and neglected, but firm in his trust in God. 

Naming of the New World. — You may naturally think 
that the land he discovered should have been named for 
him. The Spanish greed for gold, no doubt, had a great 




12 History of the United States. 

deal to do with its not being so named. Printing had been 
invented about the time that Columbus was born, and so 
knowledge was more rapidly spread than before. But neither 
Columbus nor any of his immediate followers took time to 
write and publish an account of the new land they had found. 
Amerigo Vespucci. — Amerigo Vespucci, a gentle- 
man of Florence, became interested in the western 
discoveries and took part in them. An expedition 
with which he sailed coasted along South America 
for hundreds of miles, and Amerigo and others 
were convinced that it was not Asia, but a new 
VESPUCCI, continent, which lay before them. 
The New World Named America. — When he returned to 
Europe, Amerigo wrote an account of the new land and its 
productions, and gave his reasons for believing that it was a 
new world. This book and others attracted the attention of 
Europe, and the new country received its name from the first 
man who had observed it closely and described it faithfully. 
English Expedition of Discovery. — Other navigators car- 
ried on the discoveries of Columbus. His brother, Bar- 
tholomew, had been captured by pirates, and so did not get 
to England in time to obtain aid for him from the English 
king. But as soon as the tidings of his discovery of land 
in the west reached England, Henry VU. sent out John 
Cabot and his son Sebastian to sail westward and take pos- 
session for England of all unknown lands they might discover. 
Discovery of North America by John and Sebastian Cabot, 
1497. — With one little ship and eighteen men, 
Cabot reached the coast of North America on 
June 24, 1497, and so became the real discoverer 
of our continent. The New-found-land was either 
the island of that name or the coast of Labrador. 
Sebastian Cabot the next year cruised southward 
along the coast as far as the Carolinas, and took cabot. 
possession of the whole in the name of the English king, 
as his father had done before of his more northern dis- 
covery. Thus we owe our country neither to Columbus 
and his Spaniards, nor to Amerigo Vespucci, but to the 
brave hearts and strong hands of Anglo-Saxon sailors sent 
out by an English king. 
French Expedition under Cartier. — The French king 




Discovery. 13 

Francis I., also sent expeditions westward. Jacques Cartier, 
commanding one of these, took posession of Nova Scotia 
and New Brunswick for France, and, sailing through the 
gulf and up the river he named St. Lawrence, claimed it 
also for his king. 

Right of Discovery. — In those days what was called " the 
right of discovery " was thought to give a title to the pos- 
session of a country. To strengthen this right, the Pope 
bestowed upon Spain and Portugal all the lands in the New 
World. We know he had no power to do this, but the 
Spaniards and Portuguese thought themselves very secure 
in their new possessions when the Pope confirmed their title. 

"Line of Demarcation," and Discovery of Brazil, 1500. — 
To quiet the jealousy of the two nations, the meridian 370 
leagues west of the Cape Verde Islands was called the "Line 
of Demarcation." All land discovered east of this was to 
belong to Portugal; all west of it to Spain. In 1500, Cabral, 
a Portuguese sailor who had set out to follow Vasco de 
Gama's famous voyage round the Cape of Good Hope in 
the previous year, going too far to the westward, discovered 
the coast of Brazil, not far from the mouth of the Amazon. 
The land lay east of the " Line of Demarcation," and so 
Brazil became a Portuguese and not a Spanish country. 

Discovery of the Pacific by Balboa, 1513. — Led on by thirst 
for gold, the Spaniards pushed their discoveries always to- 
wards the west and south, where the Indians assured them 
gold was to be found. One expedition was wrecked on the 
coast of Panama, and Balboa, one of the adventurers, crossed 
the mountains of the isthmus and obtained the first sight of 
the Pacific Ocean, in 1518. 

Discovery of Florida, 1513. — In this same year Ponce de 
Leon, searching not for gold like his countrymen, but for a 
fountain which the Indians declared would restore a man to 
perpetual youth, came upon another unknown coast. It 
was on Easter Sunday, in Spanish "El Pascua Florida,'^ and 
the new land has borne the name " Florida " ever since. 

Conquest of Mexico and Peru. — Within the next twenty 
years, Hernando Cortez conquered Mexico, and Alonzo 
Pizarro, with ships built on the Pacific Coast, seized on 
Peru. In these rich countries the Spanish thirst for gold 
might have been satisfied with what the natives gave them; 



14 History of the United States. 

but the conquerors practiced the most frightful cruelties 
upon both Mexicans and Peruvians to extort from them 
still greater stores of treasure. 

First Voyage Round the World. — While Pizarro was busy 
torturing and robbing in Peru, Fernando Magellan, a Por- 
tuguese captain of a Spanish ship, sailed farther south and 
west than any one else had done, passed through the strait 
which ])ears his name, and entered the great quiet ocean, 
which he called " Pacific." Magellan died at sea, but his 
ship got safely back to Spain, having made the first voyage 
round the world. 

Discovery of the Mississippi River by De Soto, 1541. — In 
1539, Ferdinand De Soto, with a large force of men and a 
good number of horses, landed on the coast of Florida, still 
on the search for gold. The Spanish cruelties had made 
all the Indians hostile to them, and De Soto had to fight 
his way westward to the Mississippi River. He crossed the 
great river and proceeded some distance up the western 
bank, always disappointed in not finding gold. The party 
endured great hardships, and De Soto himself died of fever. 
His followers buried him in the Mississippi to secure his 
body from the vengeance of tlie savages, and after many 
days of suffering made their way back to Mexico. 

AUTHORITIES. — Irving's Columbus; Fiske's Discovery of America; Prescott's 
Ferdinand and Isabella, and Conquest of Mexico; Bancroft's History of the United 
States, Vol. I.; Century Papers on Columbus; Monette's History of Louisiana and 
the Mississippi Valley; Winsor's Narrative and Critical History of the United 
States, Vol. II. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. What is the legend about Hanno? 2. Where is Car- 
thage ? 3. The legend of Madoc ? 4. Where is Wales ? 5. Who was Eric ? 
6. Where is Iceland ? 7. What did Eric and Leif discover ? 8. Describe 
Vinland and its settlement ? 9. Where was it ? 10. Were other settlements 
made then ? 11. When did this occur ? 13. How long has the American conti- 
nent been known to the world? VS. Tell of the advance of learning 
14. Who was Christopher Columbus? 15. What was his plan? 16. Who 
helped him? 17. When did he sail and where is Palos? 18. When was 
America thus discovered and where? 19. Why did Columbus call the new 
people "Indians"? 20. Tell of his return to Spain and further voyages. 
21. For what did the Spaniards search? 22. When did Columbus die? 

28. Why was not America named for Columbus? 24. After whom was it 
named? 25. Why? 

26. Whom did the English send out to the New World ? 27. What part 
of the continent did they discover? 28. Tell of the French expedition. 

29. The "right of discovery." 80. The "Line of Demarcation." 31. How 
did Brazil become Portuguese ? 32. Who discovered the Pacific and when ? 
33. Tell of the discovery and naming of Florida. 34. Conquest of Mexico 
and Peru. 35. First voyage around the world. 36. Who discovered the 
Mississippi? 37. Find all these places on the map. 



CHAPTER 11. 



THE AMERICAN INDIANS. 



S^ 



^ 




INDIAN WEAPONS. 



Appearance of the Indians. — The people found by the 
Europeans in America all received the name of Indians, as 
those of the islands had already done. They were a race 
unlike any other, and, while differing greatly in the differ- 
ent parts 
of the 
conti- 
nent, and 
being 
called by 
m™.-^ ri'v «/ -^fcw" different 

names, 
were 
alike i n 
so many respects that they are believed to 
have sprung from the same stock. They 
were all of a dusky brown or copper color, 
from which they were afterwards known as 
["red men." They had straight, coarse, black 
Ihair and black eyes and very little beard. 
Their cheek bones were very high, their hands 
and feet small, and their bodies generally slen- 
der and spare. A¥hile alike in so many re- 
spects, there were great differences in the size 
and appearance, .and in the customs and modes 
of life of the Indian tribes. Distinguishing 
them by their habits, we may call them savage, bar- 
barous, and half-civilized. 

The Savage Indians. — The savage Indians dwelt in 
the region extending from the west of Hudson Bay 
southward to Mexico, between the Rocky Mountains 
and the Pacific Coast. Like their descendants, the Apaches 
and Athabascans, they had no settled homes, but moved 
from place to place, lived in rude tents or wigwams covered 
with skins, subsisted by hunting and fishing, and did very 

[15] 



h 



16 



History of the United States, 



little in cultivating the soil. The vast herds of buffaloes 
and deer and the lish in the rivers and lakes along which 
they wandered supplied them with food. They could weave 
baskets, but do not appear to have known the art of making 
even rude pottery. Such scant clothing as they had was 
simply the skins of the animals killed in hunting. 

The Barbarous Indians. — East of the Rocky Mountains 
to the Atlantic Ocean, and southward to the Gulf of Mexico, 
the red men may be characterized as barbarous Indians. 
They dwelt in settlements or villages and understood some 
little about agriculture, raising maize, or Indian corn, in 
considerable quantities, as well as some other vegetables — 
such as pumpkins, beans, and tobacco. Their implements 







INDIAN VILLAGE. 



for cultivating their patches were clumsy stone hoes. Their 
dwellings were either rude wooden structures covered with 
bark, or were made of sun-baked clay. These houses were 
occupied by several families, sometimes as many as fifty 
under one roof. These families were all the descendants of 
some one grandmother, or more remote ancestress, and con- 
stituted what we call a clan. Several clans, speaking the 
same language and probably being kindred in blood, com- 
posed a tribe. 

Arts and Habits of the Barbarous Indians. — The barba- 
rous Indians practiced some rude household arts, such as 
making pottery and weaving a coarse kind of cloth. They 
made baskets, canoes, and weapons of stone and polished 
flints; and some tribes had quite beautiful robes of feathers 
interwoven with grass or their coarse thread. All these 



The American Indians. 



17 



arts, except the making of tomahawks and spears and arrow 
heads, were practiced by the women alone, who also per- 
formed all other kinds of labor, for the men scorned work 
of any sort, and occupied themselves only in hunting, fish- 
ing, fighting their enemies, and meeting in the councils of 
their tribes. It was the women who prepared the game 
killed by the men, cultivated and gathered in their slender 
crops, carried the skins for the 
wigwams and their few pos- 
sessions, when a tribe moved 
its place, and set up what 
shelters they had. They car- 
ried their children — the " pa- 
pooses"— on their backs, along 
with their other burdens. 
Neither the savage nor the 
barbarous Indians had any 
written language. They were 
without any history, any sys- 
tematic government or settled 
form of religion, and had no 
domestic animals except a few 
miserable dogs. Each clan 
had some symbol of its own, 
usually the rude picture or 
figure of some animal, which 
was called a "totem," and had, 
also, its peculiar religious 
ceremonies. The sachem, or 
chief, was chosen by the war- 
riors of the clan, who also elected their war chiefs. These 
chiefs composed the council of the tribe. 

The Half-civilized Indians. — The half-civilized Indians, 
within the United States, were not numerous, and were 
found only in Arizona and New Mexico. They lived in 
strong, fortified towns, usually built on some steep, inac- 
cessible height, and were called by the Spaniards " Pueblo 
Indians." They extended from New Mexico down to Chili 
in South America. 

The Aztecs and Peruvians. — The Aztecs in Mexico and 
the people of Peru were the most advanced in civilization, 
2 




PUEBLO INDIAN AT PRAYER. 



18 



History of the United States. 



They built splendid temples and palaces, had fine cities and 
gardens, an organized system of government, a state religion, 
good roads, a mode of hieroglyphic writing, and many other 
civilized habits and customs. 

The Esquimaux. — The Esquimaux, whom Eric the Red 
found in Greenland, were the same short, stout people who 
live there to-day. 

Origin of the Indians. — Where these original inhabitants 
of the continent came from, cannot be known. It is not to 
be doubted that they were descended from Adam and Eve. 
Some things in their language, their superstitions, and their 
traditions resemble those of Asiatic nations. Perhaps they 




MOUNDS NEAE MARIETTA, OHIO. 



came from Asia or Europe long, long before Eric or Colum- 
bus crossed the sea. But whether they drifted across from 
Asia or Europe, or passed from Siberia to Alaska, no man 
can say. The Indians themselves had the scantiest tradi- 
tions as to their orighi. Some claimed to have come from 
the north, others from the south, and others again to have 
sprung from the ground. 

Indian Mounds. — Not only are we ignorant of the origin 
of the people whom Columbus and Cortez found in Americ-a, 
but there are everywhere to be seen ruins and antiquities of 
older races than they. All through the region from the 
Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico are traces of a race known 
as the " Mound Builders," from the great mounds or earth- 
works left by them. Some of these mounds are tombs, some 




The American Indians. 19 

temples, others fortifications. In the burial mounds, skele- 
tons, burial urns, trinkets of silver and copper, arms, pipes, 
vases of pottery with designs traced on them, and articles of 
coarse cloth, have been found. 
These mounds are seen in Vir- 
ginia, Ohio, and the States soutli 
and west of them. The fortifica- 
tion mounds also exist in many- 
places. Earthworks in the form 
of animals or reptiles are more ^^dian mounb m west Virginia. 

curious still, and are supposed to have had some religious 
meaning. They are found on both sides of the Mississippi 
River. The Indians living here when the white men came 
could not have made these mounds, and seem to have been 
too stupid to be impressed by them. They never told the 
white men any tradition concerning them. 

Some Bad Traits of Indian Character. — The character of 
the savage and barbarous Indians was much the same every- 
where. They were idle, boastful, treacherous, full of revenge, 
and merciless in their cruelty. Truth they had no regard 
for. In his wigwam, the Indian was a tyrant, and often a 
very cruel one to his wife or "squaw," whom he could beat 
or drive away or kill without hindrance. The men were 
fond of their children, especially of their sons, whom they 
trained to be warriors. 

Some Good Traits. — They had some idea of hospitality 
and were sometimes faithful friends, while always cruel and 
revengeful enemies. It was their pride to show neither 
wonder nor curiosity, to manifest no grief nor pleasure, and 
above all to allow no expression of fear or pain to escape 
from them even when in the greatest torture. Their facul- 
ties of observation were so highly cultivated that they could 
follow a friend or track a foe through the unknown wilder- 
ness by the crumpling of a leaf, the breaking of a twig, or the 
upturning of a pebble. To take the scalps of their enemies 
was their greatest pride, and an Indian youth could only be 
recognized as a "brave," an acknowledged warrior, by 
taking a certain number of scalps. 

The Indian Religion. — The Indian religion was not idola- 
try, but it had nothing in it to make them better or more 
civilized. They believed in a Great Spirit, who was wor- 



20 History of the United States. 

shipped with dances and incantations. When a warrior 
died they thought he went to tlie "happy hunting grounds," 
and they burned or buried with him his bow and arrows, 
his knife and tomahawk, sometimes his dog, and later on 
his horse. 

"Pipe of Peace." — Tobacco seems to have been the only 
Indian luxury. It entered largely into their amusements 
or deliberations. " Smoking the pipe of peace " ensured 
peace and friendly relations among all who were permitted 
to join in it. 

Three Different Races. — The various tribes of barbarous 
Indians may be collected in three races: The Algonquins, 
the Iroquois, and the Maskoki or Muskogees. Different 
tribes of the Maskoki, such as the Choctaws, Chickasaws, 
Seminoles, and Creeks, were scattered through the region 
south of the Tennessee and west of the Mississippi Rivers. 
Among them dwelt the Cherokees, who belonged to the Iro- 
quois race, as did the Tuscaroras in North Carolina, the 
Susquehannocks in Pennsylvania, the Five Nations in New 
York, together with the Hurons and Eries. To the Algon- 
quin division belonged all the other Indian tribes from 
Labrador to the Carolinas, extending even west of the Mis- 
sissippi. The Powhatans of Virginia, the Mohegans 
and Narragansetts of New England, the Leni-Lenapes of 
Delaware, the Shawnees of the Ohio Valley, and the Chip- 
pewas and Sacs and Foxes near the Great Lakes were the 
most famous of the Algonquin tribes. The Chippewas 
were the least civilized and the Iroquois the most civilized 
of all the barbarous Indians. 

AUTHORITIES.— Bancroft, Vol. III., chapter XXIV.; Fiske's History of the United 
States; living's Columbus, and Prescott's Conquest of Mexico; Scudder's History of 
the United States, chapter XXI.; Winsor's Narrative and Critical History of the United 
States, Vol. I. ; Fisher's Colonial Era, chapter II. ; Drake's Indians of North America. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. Were the Indians all alike? 2. Describe their general 
appearance. 3. What three divisions are there according to their habits? 
4. Who were the savage tribes ? 5. Describe them. 6. Where did the barba- 
rous Indians live? 7. Describe them. 8. What arts had they? 9. What 
habits of life and government? 10. Tell of tho half-civilized Indians. 11. 
The Aztecs and Peruvians. 12. Find the places mentioned. 13. Where did 
the Esquimaux live? 14. What is the origin of the Indian races ? 15. Were 
they the first people of this country? 16. Tell of the Mound-Builders. 

17. Have you ever seen a Mound or any of the curiosities found in one ? 

18. Mention some of the good and some of the bad traits of the Indian charac- 
ter. 19. What was their religion ? 20. What three races were there ? 21. Tell 
their subdivisions and where each dwelt. (See map of the Indian Tribes.; 



CHAPTER III. 



SETTLEMENTS ON THE ATLANTIC COAST. 



Spanish Settlement, 1565. — The Spaniards claimed the 
whole American coast, but made no attempts to settle on it 
north of St. Augustine, in Florida, which was founded in 1565. 

French Attempted Settlements. — Three years before that, 
a band of French Protestants, Huguenots as they were called, 
had built a fort called Carolana near Port Royal, in South 
Carolina. They soon be- mm:^_- * , 

came discouraged and left S 
America. A second party, Ig 
however, came over in '" 
1564, seeking a place where 
they might carry out their 
religion in safety, and es- 
tablished themselves on 
the St, John's River in 
Florida. Against them 
came the Spanish Gover- 
nor Melendez from Cuba, 
who fell on the colony and 
destroyed it, slaying the 
whole nine hundred men, 
women and children. 
Some of them were hung 
with the inscription — "Not 
as unto Frenchmen, but as 
unto heretics." Four years later a body of French soldiers, 
in their turn, attacked the Spanish settlements, killed three 
hundred of them, and showed that it was done in retaliation 
by affixing to some of them the words, " Not as Spaniards, 
but as murderers." 

French Settlements in Canada, 1605. — The first success- 
ful French settlement was made in Nova Scotia, and three 
years later Champlain settled Quebec. 

English Attempts. — The English had made one or two 
futile efforts at colonizing America. One of these expedi- 

[31] 




OLD GATEWAY AT ST. AlUi'JSTINE. 




22 History of the United States. 

tions, commanded by Frobisher in 1576, was to Labrador, 
where he expected to find gold. A second was by Sir 
Humphrey Gilbert to settle Newfoundland in 1585. On his 
last voyage his vessels were scattered by a storm. Sir 
Humphrey refused to leave his ship, The Squirrel, and 
the last words heard from him were ; " We are as near 
heaven by sea as by land." 

Sir Francis Drake. — Meantime, the En- 
glish sailors were becoming the boldest and 
most accomplished seamen. They took ad- 
vantage of the war with Spain to attack her 
colonies and capture her treasure ships. 
Among the most daring of these was Fran- 
cis Drake. He had seen the Pacific Ocean, 
while on an expedition against Darien, in 
'•^ 1567, and determined to explore its un- 

BIB FRANCIS DBAKE. , . ^ 

known waters. 

" Northwest Passage." — The idea in Europe was that Ame- 
rica was one large island, or a series of smaller islands, sail- 
ing around which one might reach Asia. The Portuguese 
claimed the route round Africa discovered by their sailor 
De Gama. The Spaniards made a similar claim to Magel- 
lan's route round South America. The rest of Europe 
believed that another route called the " Northwest Passage " 
round the northern coast of the New World would bring 
them more speedily to the Pacific Ocean. Hoping to find 
this passage, Frobisher, Davis, Henry Hudson, and other 
brave sailors wasted time, men, and money in the frozen 
waters north of Labrador. Their efforts are commemorated 
in the bays and straits which bear their names. 

Second Voyage Round the World. — Drake had no mind 
to spend his labors on an uncertain voyage. In 1577, he 
left England with five ships and one hundred and sixty-four 
men, took the course followed by Magellan, passed through 
the strait of that name and sailed up the western coast of 
South America. Here he plundered the Spanish settle- 
ments and took several million dollars' worth of gold and 
silver from one of the great Spanish galleons. To escape 
Spanish vengeance, he then continued his course northward 
with an idea, perhaps, that he might make his way back 
into the Atlantic Ocean. He does not appear, however, to 




Settlements on the Atlantic Coast. 23 

have gone farther north than Oregon. He wintered near 
the present city of San Francisco, and then turning west 
and south, passed through the Pacific and Indian Oceans 
and returned to Europe round the Cape of Good Hope. 
This second voyage round the world was made in two 
years and ten months. 

Queen Elizabeth's Colonies. — The reports of her sailors 
concerning America and the treasures they brought home, 
determined Queen Elizabeth of England to send colonies 
thither. The first of these was that of Sir Humphrey Gil- 
bert already mentioned. 

Sir Walter Raleigh's First Expedition — 
Naming of Virginia. — In 1584, Sir Walter 
Raleigh, under a charter from the queen, sent 
out an expedition which coasted along North 
Carolina. They landed in several places and 
were delighted with all they saw of the coun- 
try, but returned to England in a few months. '' *^^^^il:'r?^ 
The new, pleasant land was called Virginia, 
in compliment to the Virgin Queen. falter ealeigh. 

Second and Third Expeditions — Birth of Virginia Dare. — 
Two colonies were then sent by Raleigh to Virginia. Sir 
Richard Grenville, commanding the first, placed a band of 
settlers on Roanoke Island, but they became dissatisfied and 
soon abandoned it. In 1587, a second colony, well provided 
with what seemed necessary for its success, came over under 
Captain John White. For a while things went well with it, 
and Captain White had a little grand-daughter, " Virginia 
Dare," born there, the first white native of the present 
United States. 

" Lost Colony of Roanoke." — Unfortunatelj', Captain 
White was obliged to return to England. He was detained 
there for three years, and when he did get back to Roanoke 
Island, all trace of the colony had disappeared except the 
single word Croatan carved on a tree. The fate of the 
unhappy settlers never could be learned. 

Gosnold's Voyage to New England. — The ill success of 
Raleigh's venture put a stop to English colonizing for some 
years. But the spirit for it was revived by Bartholomew 
Gosnold, who discovered a shorter route to America by sail- 
ing almost straight across the Atlantic. In 1602, the last year 



24 



History of the United States. 



of Queen Elizabeth's reign, Gosnold coasted New England, 
so called by Captain John Smith a few years later, and gave 
names to Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Elizabeth Island. 




RUINS OF KOANOKE. 



Patents to Virginia and Plymouth Companies. — Influ- 
enced by Gosnold's energy, King James I. issued a " broad 
patent " in 1606 to two companies for colonizing America. 
The Virginia Company was authorized to settle anywhere 
between 34° and 38°, and the Plymouth Company between 
41° and 45° north latitude; and these grants extended to the 
Pacific Ocean. The country between was open to both, but 
they were not to approach nearer than within one hundred 
miles of each other. In the charters thus granted and the 
orders which accompanied them, there were some admir- 
able instructions, which, if carried out, might have averted 
many of the troubles which the colonists experienced. They 
were expressly admonished to be " all of one mind for the 
good of the country and your own, and to serve and fear 
God, for every plantation which our Heavenly Father hath 
not planted shall be rooted out." 

The Virginia Colony. — The Virginia Colony was entrusted 
to gentlemen who were mostly Londoners. An expedition 
set sail from Blackwell on the 19th of December, 1606, with 




Settlements on the Atlantic Coast. 25 

three vessels, the Susan Constant, commanded by Chris- 
topher Newport ; the God-speed, commanded by Bartholo- 
mew Gosnold, and the Discovery, by John RatclifFe. The 
first was a little craft of one hundred tons, the others, forty 
and ten tons respectively. Besides their crews they brought 
one hundred men to form the colony. Of these, fifty are reg- 
istered as " gentlemen." There were, also, among them the 
council for the colony and the chaplain, the Rev. Robert 
Hunt. 

Captain John Smith. — The man among 
the colonists who became most distinguished 
was Captain John Smith, an English gen- 
tleman, who had been a soldier of fortune, 
and had experienced many thrilling adven-^^ 
tures while fighting among the Christians, 
and Turks. He had returned to England 
not long before this, and joined the expedi- 
tion to colonize America. On the voyage 
he, some how, incurred the displeasure of ''^^^- '^^^ '"""• 
the officers, and was falsely accused of stirring up the men 
to mutiny. 

Settlement of Jamestown, 1607. — Captain Newport in- 
tended going to the place of the former settlement on 
Roanoke Island, but a storm drove the party from that dan- 
gerous coast into the mouth of Chesapeake Bay. They 
landed first on Cape Henry, but soon continued their course 
across the bay to Point Comfort, so called from the good 
harbor they found there. After examination of the neigh- 
boring localities, they selected a place about forty miles up 
a river which they called after King James. Here they 
landed on May 13, 1607, and laid the foundation of .James- 
town, the first permanent English settlement in America. 

The First Church. — For a time matters went flourishingly. 
The colonists set to work building shelters and making 
gardens. One of their first cares was to provide a place of 
worship by hanging an old sail between four trees as an 
awning, and rolling up logs for seats. Here Mr. Hunt read 
the service of the English Church every day, and preached 
twice on Sunday. 

Visit to Powhatan at the Falls of the James. — In three 
weeks Newport, Smith, and twenty others were sent to search 



26 



History of the XJnited States. 



for the head of the river which, of course, they did not find. 
But they came to the Indian town Powhatan, one of the 
residences of the king of that name, where the city of Rich- 
mond now stands. They visited the falls of the river and 
set up a cross there. 

Trials of the Colonists, and Captain Smith's Good Help. — 
The Indians had been very friendly to this exploring party, 
but when they returned to Jamestown, they found that 
their companions had been attacked and some of them 
killed. From this time the colonists experienced great 
hardships. Newport and the ships had gone back to Eng- 
land. Their provisions gave out. Fevers and agues disa- 
bled them. The Indians persecuted them and destroyed 
them whenever they could ; and only the dauntless spirit 
and unfailing resources of Captain John Smith saved them 
from destruction. He was made president of the colony 
and at once infused new, life into it by his courage and 
energy, taking upon himself the heaviest part of all their 
labors and hardships. His own account of the difficulties 
and dangers of the colony and of the new country is most 
interesting and instructive. 

Pocahontas and the Colony. — At one time, while seeking 
food for the colony, he was captured and carried before the 
chief Opecancanough, whose 
thoughts he diverted from 



i'^/'SMi 




POCAHONTAS SAVING SMITH. 



vengeance by showing him his pocket compass. At another, 
when King Powhatan had sentenced him to be beaten to 
death, his life was saved by Powhatan's daughter, Pocahon- 
tas, who rushed forward and shielded him with her body 
just as the Indian clubs were about to fall on his head. 
The friendship of Pocahontas proved of great service to the 



Settlements on the Atlantic Coast. 27 

colony, as she repeatedly warned it of her father's plans for 
its destruction and furnished the whites with food. 

New Colonists — Fire. — Gold Fever. — In spite of all that 
Smith could do for them, the colonists were reduced to forty 
men, when Newport returned from England in the autumn, 
bringing a supply of provisions and one hundred new set- 
tlers. These might have established themselves comforta- 
bly before the winter, but for a fire which destroyed James- 
town in December. A worse calamity was a gold fever 
which set the colonists to digging a worthless yellow sand 
instead of doing profitable work. 

Smith's Map of the Country — First Women Settlers. — In 
the summer of 1G08, Smith, with fourteen companions in 
an open boat, explored the coasts of the Chesapeake Bay 
and ascended all the rivers flowing into it. He made a map 
of the country, which is wonderful in its accuracy, and sent 
it to England, and wrote an account of all he saw. The 
first white women, Mrs. Forrest and her maid, Anne Bur- 
russ, came to Virginia in the fall of this year. Newport's 
orders from England were to bring back a lump of gold, to 
discover the South Sea, to find Sir Walter Raleigh's lost 
colonists. There was great disappointment when he 
returned without executing any one of these impossible com- 
missions. 

New Charter and New Settlers 1609 — Smith's Departure — 
"Starving Time." — A new charter was now granted the 
Virginia company which greatly increased its territory ; 
and greater efforts were made to ensure success to the col- 
ony. Nine ships were sent out carrying five hundred men 
and women. Part of them were driven by a storm on the 
Bermuda Islands, the rest reached Jamestown after many 
disasters. Shortly after this, Smith was so severely injured 
by an explosion of gunpowder that he was obliged to return 
to England for surgical treatment, and he never got back to 
Virginia. He left nearly five hundred people in the colon}^ 
well suj)plied with food, tools and domestic animals ; but it 
was soon seen that he had been the moving spirit of any- 
thing like success. Illness, waste and vice took possession 
of the colonists. Indian hostility, starvation, and sickness 
destroyed them rapidly, and within a year after Smith's 
departure, only sixty of them were living. 



28 



History of the United States. 



Coming of Lord Delaware, 1610. — In May, the crews 
wrecked on Bermuda, made their way to Jamestown in two 
small vessels they had built. The colony was so wretched 
and helpless that there seemed nothing for them all but to 
return to England. On the 7th of June they sailed from 



y..t •'* 






rWtAWS 





COMING OF LORD DELAWARE. 



Jamestown, but before they reached the capes thej^ met a 
part of Lord Delaware's fleet bringing more settlers and a 
good store of provisions, and they all returned to Jamestown 
together. 

This coming of Lord Delaware proved the turning point 
in the history of Virginia. The colonists had hard times 
still — they suffered from scarcity, from sickness, and from 
the Indians ; but they never again thought of abandoning 
their new land. 

Division of the Land — ^Raising Tobacco. — Sir Thomas 
Dale, who succeeded Lord Delaware as governor of the 
colony, gave to each settler a portion of land for his own, 
and required him to pay a certain amount of his crop into 
the public granary. Up to this time everything had been 
held in common, and the idle had consumed what the indas- 



Settlements on the Atlantic Coast 29 

trious had worked for. This division of land, and the new in- 
dustry of planting tobacco gave a life and vigor to the colony- 
it had not known before. The soil of the region is specially 
suited for growing tobacco, the use of which had become 
very fashionable in England, in spite of King James's aver- 
sion to it, and for many years it continued to be the staple 
production and the principal source of wealth in the colony. 

First Legislative Assembly — Introduction of Slavery. — In 
1619, two years before there was any other English settle- 
ment in America, the first legislative assembly on the con- 
tinent, the Virginia House of Burgesses, consisting of two 
members elected from each borough, met at Jamestown, 
and from this time on showed constant jealousy to protect 
the personal rights of each citizen of the colony. This was 
the more important because King James was restricting the 
rights of his subjects in England in every possible way, and 
many of them came to Virginia where civil liberty might 
still be enjoyed. In August of this same year a cargo of 
twenty negroes was brought in by a Dutch man-of-war, and 
sold as slaves to the Virginia planters. 

Slavery Throughout the World in 1619. — Slavery has 
been abolished in the United States, and will, no doubt, 
before many years, be done away with among all Christian 
nations ; but in 1619 it was widely prevalent. The Span- 
iards made slaves of the Indians in the West Indies. When 
the Indians proved unfit for continued work, they brought 
negroes from Africa to work their mines and cultivate their 
fields. When the bringing of the Africans to the West 
Indies was found to be very profitable, many English ships 
engaged in the slave-trade. Sir John Hawkins, one of Eliz- 
abeth's great sea captains, made so much money by the 
sale in Cuba of a cargo of Africans, that the queen herself 
became a partner with him in a second venture, and derived 
much profit from it. Not only was African slavery coun- 
tenanced, but it was customary to bring from England and 
sell for a term of years, white servants, and those upon 
whom the hand of the law fell during various rebellions 
against the English crown. Although she did not bring 
the first African slave to America, England entered largely 
into the African slave-trade, carrying negroes not only to 
her colonies, but also to the Spaniards in the West Indies. 



30 History of the United States. 

From this time until the early part of this century the 
African slave-trade was carried on by the civilized nations 
of Europe Avithout any scruple. 

When the United States came into existence, there was 
great aversion to the continuance of slavery, especially 
among the Southern States, where the negroes were most 
abundant. But the difficulty, then, as afterwards, was to 
know how to get rid of it without perpetrating equal if not 
greater wrong. 

Shipload of Girls, 1620. — In this year a cargo, which 
greatly influenced the history of the colony, was brought to 
Jamestown. It consisted of a shipload of respectable young 
English girls to furnish wives for the colonists. Each man 
taking a wife paid one hundred and fifty pounds of tobacco 
for the expense of her passage. Anne Burruss was the 
only unmarried woman who had come to Virginia before 
this; and these young women established happy homos in 
all parts of the colony. 

Cargo of Criminals. — King James also sent to Virginia 
one hundred convicted criminals, in spite of the remon- 
strance of the Virginia Company. Parliament authorized 
that criminals should be sent to all the colonies, and there 
is little doubt that cargoes of them were landed elsewhere, 
and not in Virginia alone. Many of these convicts were 
condemned for very slight offences. 

Marriage and Death of Pocahontas. — After Captain Smith 
left Virginia, Pocahontas ceased her intercourse with the 
English, and Powhatan showed himself ver}^ unfriendly 
towards them. Captain Argall, an unscrupulous English- 
man, got possession of Pocahontas by stratagem and carried 
her to Jamestown. Here she became a Christian and mar- 
ried, in 1613, Mr. John Rolfe, one of the colonists. In 1616 
she went to England with her husband, where she was 
much .noticed as the " Lady Rebecca." Meeting her old 
friend. Captain John Smith, on one occasion, she showed 
great emotion, addressed him as "Father," and insisted on 
his calling her " Child." She died in England, leaving 
one son, from whom a number of Southern families are 
descended. 

The Indian' Massacre, 1622. — Old King Powhatan was 
reconciled to the English by his daughter's marriage, but 



Settlements on the Atlantic Coast. 31 

his successor, Opecancanough, hated them, and made a 
deep-laid plan to destroy them. There were now about 
four thousand whites in the colony, but they were scattered - 
on their plantations along the rivers and streams. Ope- 
cancanough persuaded -nearly all the Indians to join in his 
plot, and fixed upon the 22d of March, 1622, for the exter- 
mination of the whites. On the morning of that day the 
Indians came and went among them in their usual friendly 
manner, but at midday the work of destruction began. 
Before the settlers could defend themselves, three hundred 
of them had been slain in the . most barbarous manner. 
When the whites did resist, the Indians fled. Such was the 
dread produced by this massacre that the people abandoned 
their plantations and crowded together for protection. In 
time the whites recovered from their alarm, but never 
resumed friendly relations with the Indians. 

English Perseverance and Self-Government. — Just before 
James I. died he dissolved the London Company, and A^ir- 
ginia became a royal province. The story of the "settle- 
ment of this first of the English colonies on the globe shows 
the great value of the English spirit of perseverance, and 
furnished the other American colonies with a model for self- 
government, which each copied in a greater or less degree. 

AUTHORITIES.— Captain John Smith's Generall Historie of Virginia; Bancroft, Vol. 
I.; Brown's Genesis of the United States; Campbell's History of Virginia; Cooke's 
History of Virginia; Winsor's Narrative and Critical History of the United States, 
Vol. II. ; Hildreth's History of the United States, Vol. 1. 

QUESTIONS. — 1. Where and when was the first known settlement in Ame- 
rica ? 2. Tell of the attempted French settlements before that, and their fate. 
3. When and by whom was Canada settled ? 4. Relate the English attempts. 
5. Who was Sir Francis Drake? 6. What is the meaning of the " jSTorthwest 
Passages"? 7. Tell of the search for it. 8. Describe the second voyage 
around the world. 9. What colonies did Queen Elizabeth send out? 10. Tell 
of the Lost Colony of Roanoke. 11. Did Sir Walter Raleigh ever come to 
America? 12. Tell what you know of ■ Virginia Dare. 13. When did Gosnold 
come to New England? 14. What two companies were organized for coloniz- 
ing? 15. What good advice did the king give them? 16. Tell of the Vir- 
ginia Colony, and of Captain John Smith. 17. Settlement at Jamestown. 
18. Where is Jamestown? 19. Describe the first church. 20. The visit to 
King Powhatan. 21. What trials had the colonists, and who helped them? 
22. Tell the story of Pocahontas. 23. What fmlher trials beset the new 
colony? 24. Who were the first women settlers? 25. Why did Captain 
Smith leave, and when? 2(i. Who saved the colony in 1610? 27. What wise 
provision did Sir Thomas Dale make? 28. When and how was slaveiy intro- 
duced ? 29. Opinion and ]>ractice of slavery at that time. 30. What sort of 
a cargo was, brought in 1620? 31. What other sort? 32. Tell of the mar- 
riage and death of Pocahontas. 33. The Indian massacre, 1622. 



CHAPTER IV. 



SETTLEMENT OF NEW ENGLAND. 



New England in 1607-14. — Like the London Company, 
the Plymouth Company made an effort to settle on the ter- 
ritory granted by their charter by sending a colony to the 
banks of the Sagadahoc, or Kennebec River, in Maine, in 
1607. The settlers, however, became discouraged and re- 
turned to England. English ships seem to have come fre- 
quently to the coast, attracted by the fine fishing found 
there, and Captain John Smith, in 1614, four years after he 
left Virginia, examined the region, made a map of it, and 
called it New England. 

Landing of the Pilgrims, 1620.— In 1620 a band of 
English people known as " Separatists," because they 

had disapproved of the English 
Church and had separated them- 
selves from it, determined to seek 
a home in America, where they 
could enjoy their religious opinions 
without the persecutions they expe- 
rienced in England. They had 
tried Holland, but did not find 
it congenial, and turned their 
thoughts to the New World. After 
many difficulties and delays they 
sailed from Plymouth in the May- 
flower, intending to go to the Dutch 
settlement in New -Jersey. Storms 
drove them from their course and 
they landed first on Cape Cod, and 
then crossing the bay, on a spot to which Captain Smith had, 
curious to say, given the name of Plymouth several years 
before. This was on December 11 (old style), 1620. Before 
they left the ship, the Pilgrims, as they called themselves, 
signed an agreement under which the colony was governed 
peaceablv for several years. 

[32] 




THE Hr AYn.OWEK. 



Settlement of New England. 33 

Misfortunes of the Settlers.— The winter was a severe one 
and the colonists suffered so much from exposure in the 
poor shelters they were able to provide that before spring 
one-half of their number had died, among them the gov- 
ernor, John Carver, with his wife and child. William 
Bradford was then chosen governor and the defence of the 
colony was put in charge of the stout soldier. Captain Miles 
Standish. Having their wives and children with them was 
a great stimulus to encourage these colonists, who, besides 
this advantage, suffered no molestation from the Indians. 
A pestilence had destroyed nearly all the natives of the re- 
gion, and the whites more than once obtained from their 
deserted wigwams welcome supplies of food. In 1G21 the 
colony made a treaty of peace with Massasoit, chief of the 
Wampanoag Indians, their neighbors, which was faithfully 
kept for fifty years. 

Later Colonies in New England. — Following the Pilgrims 
came other colonists to other points on the New England 
coast. The Massachusetts Bay Colony was established by 
the Puritans at Salem in 1628. Charles I. gave the Massa- 
chusetts Bay Company a charter the next year, and they 
sent out more colonists. In 1630 the company itself moved 
over to America, bringing its previous charter with it. Fif- 
teen hundred settlers came at once, headed by Governor 
John Winthrop, and settled at Boston, Cambridge, Lynn, 
and other places. Later on, the colonies of Connecticut, 
New Haven, Providence, and Rhode Island were established. 
All these colonies originated under the influence of religious 
feeling. 

The Puritans. — The Puritans opposed the tyrannical gov- 
ernment of King Charles, and were especially hostile to the 
Church of England and to the forms and ceremonies of its 
worship. Charles hated them, and employed many perse- 
cutions against them, and it was to enjoy more civil liberty 
and to practice their religion in peace that they came to 
America. Numbers of the first comers were unfit for the 
hardships which they had to encounter. A hundred of 
them returned to England. Two hundred died within the 
first year. The rest — ;stronger, braver, and more perse- 
vering — set about making homes in the new land. They 
had been prosperous folk, in England, and they brought 
-8 



34 History of the United States. 

over their thrift and industry with them. They possessed 
noble English qualities. They were brave, hardy, indus- 
trious, pure in their speech and in their lives; but they had 
none of that Christian charity which " sufFereth long and 
is kind," They learnt no lesson of kindness from the per- 
secution from which they had suffered, but brought to 
America the same intolerance and bigoted adherence to 
their own religious views which had made them hostile to 
all who differed with them in England. 

Puritan Idea of Religious Liberty. — They soon made it 
apparent that the "freedom to worship God " which they 
sought was to be shared by none who did not think as they 
thought. Religious liberty was to be granted to none, unless 
they held and practiced the strictest Puritan belief. They 
not only thought themselves absolutely right, but held that 
all who differed with them were absolutely wrong and must 
be punished and not tolerated b}'^ them. 

Puritan Laws of Governor Endicott. — The Plymouth Sep- 
aratists had had their views enlarged by their sojourn in 
Holland, and were less disposed to persecute their opponents 
than the others. The Salem Colony were peculiarly strong 
in intolerance of any views but tlieir own. Endicott, their 
first governor, was the most rigid of Puritans. He cut the 
cross out of the British flags and compelled the men to cut 
their hair short, and the women to wear veils on their heads 
in church. When some of the settlers of Salem who were 
members of the English Church desired to use the English 
liturgy, Governor Endicott immediately shipped them back 
to England. One of the ministers of the town was, not long 
after this, banished from the colony for holding more liberal 
opinions. 

Law as to Voting, 1631. — The charter of Massachusetts 
Bay Colony allowed all important laws to be enacted by the 
freemen of the colony. At first all were permitted to exer- 
cise this right, but in 1631 the general court in Boston de- 
cided that no one should vote in any political assembly who 
was not a member of one of the churches in the colony. 
The ministers now became the controlling power. Roger 
Williams, a young Puritan preacher, saw that this law pre- 
vented civil as well as religious freedom. He said that the 
civil authority had no right to dictate to a man's conscience 



Settlement of New England. 



85 



or interfere with his rehgious opinions; that the magistrates 
had power only over the persons and property of men, but 
had nothing to do with their souls; and that to choose the 
magistrates from the members of the church alone was no 
more sensible than to select a " doctor of physic as a pilot 
because he stood well with the church." 

Roger Williams Exiled — Settlement of Rhode Island, 
1636. — For these utterances Roger Williams was driven 
from his church in Salem, and when his congregation called 
him back, the court in Boston took from them their land. 
They also determined to banish him from the colony and 




ROGER WILLIAMS LANUINli AT PROVIDENCE, 



ship him back to England. To avoid this Williams escaped 
from Salem and made his way southward through the snow 
to some friendly Indians. Five of his followers joined him, 
and they fixed their abode on Narragansett Bay. In grati- 
tude to God he called his settlement Providence. This was 
the beginning of the State of Rhode Island, in 1636. Other 
settlers came, and Williams obtained a deed from his Indian 
friend, Canonicus, for the territory of that State. Not long 
after settling in Rhode Island, Williams became a Baptist. 



36 History of the United States. 

In 1644 "Williams obtained a charter from Parliament which 
gave to the people of Rhode Island considerable liberty, 
both civil and religious. This charter and a later one 
united all the settlements under the title of Rhode Island 
and Providence Plantations. 

Story of Anne Hutchinson. — Anne Hutchinson also trou- 
bled the Massachusetts Colony about this time with peculiar 
religious teaching. Among other absurdities, she professed 
to have special revelations from God. Instead of consider- 
ing her a person of unsound mind, the whole colony was 
full of strife between those who opposed and those who 
favored her. At last her opponents succeeded in banishing 
Anne and some of her disciples. They went first to Rhode 
Island, and then to New York. Some years afterwards Mrs. 
Hutchinson was killed in an Indian outbreak. 

Growth of Massachusetts. — In spite of these quarrels and 
disturbances, Massachusetts continued to grow, and in 
twenty years from the first coming of the Pilgrims had 
15,000 English residents. 

Settlement of Connecticut. — The valley of the Connecti- 
cut lay within the region granted to the first Plymouth 
Company. The Dutch established a trading post at the 
mouth of the river, near the present city of Hartford; but 
the English soon took possession of the land. One party 
established themselves at Windsor, led by Thomas Hooker. 
Another moved through the unknown forests with their 
families, their cattle, and other possessions, and settled the 
towns of Wethersfield, Windsor, and Hartford. Many of 
these settlers left Massachusetts to avoid the religious 
tyranny there. 

Settlement Under John Winthrop. — About the same time. 
Lord Say and Lord Brooke obtained from the Earl of War- 
wick a grant which the Plymouth Company had made him 
of the territory of Connecticut. They sent out a colony 
under -lohn Winthrop, son of the governor of Massachu- 
setts, who drove off the Dutch and built a fort, which he 
called Saybrooke, at the mouth of the river. In 1639 the 
men of the Connecticut settlement met at Hartford and 
formed for themselves a liberal constitution, which is claimed 
to have been the first written constitution. New Haven was 
settled later. In a few years all these settlements obtained a 



Settlement of Neiu England. 37 

charter as the colony of Connecticut. Many of the early 
colonists were men of learning, and their descendants have 
generally cherished a love for letters and science. The 
same religious opinions prevailed as in Massachusetts. New 
Haven allowed none but church members to vote, and the 
different settlements were principally governed by the min- 
isters or "pillars of the church." 

Pequot War. — The Indians of Connecticut were the Pe- 
quots, who were very unfriendly to the whites and did all in 
their power to destroy them. They killed the men at their 
work, burned some to death, and tortured others in cruel 
ways. The settlers rose against them, attacked the Pequot 
fort near Stonington, and gained such a complete victory 
that out of seven hundred Indians only five escaped alive. 
The tribe was entirely destroyed, and the other Indians were 
so much intimidated by the prowess of the whites that for 
thirty-eight years they ceased to molest them anywhere in 
New England. 

Settlement of New Hampshire, 1623, and Maine, 1630. — 
The territory which now forms the States of Maine and 
New Hampshire was granted to two Englishmen, Gorges 
and Mason. In 1623 the towns of Portsmouth and Dover, 
on the Piscataqua, were settled, and seven years later Saco 
and Biddeford in Maine. Gorges and Mason then divided 
their territory. Gorges taking what is now Maine, and Mason 
the region south of it, which he called New Hampshire. 
After Mason's death his territory came under the control of 
Massachusetts, but was in 1679 set off to itself as the colony 
of New Hampshire. A number of the early settlers in this 
colony belonged to the Church of England, but Massachu- 
setts appears to have interfered with them very little on that 
account. The population of New England had grown to 
26,000 in twenty years — 15,000 in Massachusetts, the rest 
in the other colonies. When the strife began in 1640 be- 
tween Charles I. and the Long Parliament, the Puritans 
stopped coming to New England. 

AUTHORITIES.— Bancroft. Vol. I.; Fiske's Beginnings of New England: Brown's 
Genesis of the United States ; Scudder's History of the United States; Thalheimer's, 
Montgomery's, Hildreth's, and other Histories of the United States; Winsor s Narra- 
tive and Critical History of the United States, Vol. III. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. What happened in New England in 1007-14? 3. Tell of 
the Pilgrims and of the landing of the Mayflower. 3. Misfortunes and bravery 



88 History of tlie United States. 

of the settlers, and treaty with the Indians. 4. What other colonies came 
later? 5. Find the places where they settled. 6. Describe the Puritans. 
7. Their idea of religious liberty. 8. Laws made by Governor Endicott. 
9. What law of voting was made in 1631? 10. What did Roger Williams say 
of it? 11. AVho was he? 12. What happened to him for his freedom of 
speech? 13. When and how was Providence settled? 14. Tell the story of 
Anne Hutchinson. 15. How many residents in Massachusetts in 1640? 
16. Who settled Connecticut? 17. Where? 18. Tell of John Winthrop. and 
of religion and education in Connecticut. 19. Relate the Pequot War. 
20. The settlement of New Hampshire and Maine, and the growth of New 
England. 



CHAPTER V. 

IfEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, DELAWARE. 

Discovery of the Hudson, 1609 — Settlement of New Neth- 
erland. — New York, New Jersey, and Delaware were all first 
settled by the Dutch. When Holland had become free and 
strong, after her great struggle with Spain, her people en- 
gaged largely in trade and commerce, and her seamen were 
famous all over the world. A company of wealthy mer- 
chants employed Henry Hudson to find a short route to In- 
dia. While searching for this, Hudson sailed, in 1609, into 
what is now New York Harbor and up the great river 
which bears his name. There was much disappointment 
that neither this river nor Hudson Bay, afterwards discov- 
ered, led to the Pacific Ocean, and the Hollanders do 
not seem to have valued very much the discoveries 
Hudson had made. Some merchants, however, sent 
vessels back to America to trade for furs, and settle- 
ments were made on Manhattan Island, near Albany, "'^'"^°'^- 
and on some points in New Jersey and Delaware. Forts 
were built and the territory was called "New Netherland." 
Some of the settlers who came over were " Walloons," Pro- 
testants who had taken refuge in Holland from persecution 
in Flanders. 

Patroons. — The Dutch did not hold all the land they had 
taken possession of in common. They gave to any one who 
bought land from the Indians and settled fifty persons upon 
it an almost absolute right over the land and the colonists. 
The owners were called " patroons," and many of them ac- 




Ncu) York, New Jersey, Delaware. 39 

quired immense tracts of land. These patroons took up the 
land on hoth sides of the Hudson, and even as far down the 
coast as Delaware Bay, and sent over farmers, cattle, tools, 
and everything necessary to make their enterprise success- 
ful. They were great traders, and their principal occupa- 
tion was trading with the Indians for furs. We have seen 
how they had gone into the Connecticut Valley for this pur- 
pose. 

Increase of the Dutch Colony. — The Hollanders had at 
home few individual political rights, so their colonists in 
America claimed none. They were accustomed to a govern- 
ment composed of the rich merchants, the rulers of the 
cities, and the hereditary noblemen of the country, and 
were satisfied to be ruled in the same way by the patroons 
and the rich merchants and the governor of New Amster- 
dam. But as their native country was the refuge in Europe 
of all Protestants oppressed elsewhere, so also in New 
Netherland an asylum was found by men of every shade of 
Protestantism. Free passage was offered to all who were 
willing to emigrate. " Mechanics, farmers, and laborers" 
were especially invited. And the colony increased in num- 
bers, in prosperity and wealth. 

Slave Ships. — The Dutch had brought African slaves to 
Virginia in 1G19, and introduced them into Manhattan in 
the earlier years of their settlement there. Indeed, they 
seem to have been the great slave carriers of the world at 
that time, and one of the later governors of New Amster- 
dam, Peter Stuyvesant, was instructed to promote the sale 
of negroes as far as possible. 

Strife with Indians and Peace at Battery Park. — At fil-st 
the colony held friendly relations with the Indians, but under 
the influence of rum the savages and the traders fell into 
strife, and murders were perpetrated on both sides. A mid- 
night massacre of the Indians around Manhattan by soldiers 
and citizens from New Amsterdam, in which one hundred un- 
off^ending Indians perished, was followed by an outburst of 
vengeance on the part of the Algonquin tribes. They harried 
the country, burnt the villages, and murdered the men at their 
work. The whole colony seemed threatened with destruction. 
Providentially, Roger Williams was at Manhattan at the 
time, on his way to England to procure a charter for Rhode 



40 History of the United States. 

Island, and he was able to moderate the wrath of the Indian 
sachems and to make a temporary peace between them and 
the whites. In this Indian outbreak Anne Hutchinson and 
her family were killed. For two years the strife went on, 
until both sides were weary, and then the Mohawks sent an 
embassy to desire peace. There was a great meeting of In- 
dian sachems and the Dutch authorities on what is now the 
beautiful " Battery Park," at the foot of Manhattan Island, 
and a treaty of peace was solemnly signed. Great rejoicing 
followed, and the governor, Keift, who had ordered the mas- 
sacre of the Indians, was held in abhorrence as the author 
of so much bloodshed and strife. Under Stuyvesant, Keift's 
successor, the Indians were treated kindly and the whole 
colony flourished. During this period New Jersey continued 
under Dutch rule. 

Swedes in Delaware. — Delaware had also several Dutch 
settlements. The principal of these, made by De Vries, 
near Lewistown, at the mouth of the Delaware River, was 
entirely destroyed by the Indians. A few years after this a 
company of Swedes, provided with a religious teacher, with 
provisions, and articles for trading with the Indians, sailed 
into Delaware Bay. They bought from the natives the 
country from Cape Henlopen to Trenton, and built a fort 
within the present State of Delaware, which, as well as the 
creek on which it stood, they called Christiana, after the 
little queen of Sweden. The country appeared so smiling 
and beautiful to these settlers from the frozen north that 
they called Cape Henlopen " Paradise Point." Sweden had 
a great name at this time, because its king, Gustavus 
Adolphus, was a great warrior; and though the Dutch in 
New Netherland grumbled greatly at the Swedish occupa- 
tion of the country they considered as theirs, they did 
nothing but protest againt it. 

Delaware, or New Sweden, Taken by the Dutch, 1655. — 
A report of the loveliness of the region occupied by their 
countrymen attracted many emigrants from Sweden and 
Finland, and settlements were made all along the Delaware 
to the falls of the river, and the region was called New 
Sweden. The governor of the colony built a fort and estab- 
lished his quarters a little below Philadelphia, and a suburb 
of that city itself was colonized by the Swedes. The 



Settlement of Maryland. 41 

Swedish settlers became prosperous and the lands they held 
were well cultivated and fruitful, but in the meantime the 
Swedish kingdom in Europe had lost its power. The Dutch 
governor at New Amsterdam was ordered by the govern- 
ment in Holland "to drive the Swedes away, or to compel 
their submission." Accordingly, in 1655, Governor Stuy- 
vesant sailed from Manhattan into Delaware Bay, overpow- 
ered the Swedes, captured their forts, and re-established 
the Dutch authority. New Sweden disappeared, but her 
colonists and their descendants remained an upright, honest, 
sturdy race, devoted to the religion of their Protestant 
fathers, and cherishing great attachment to their fatherland. 

AUTHORITIES.— Bancroft's History of the United States, Vols. I., II.; Winsor's 
Narrative and Critical History of tlie United States, Vols. III., IV.; Campbell's His- 
tory of Virginia; Cooke's History of Virginia; Fiske's History of the United States; 
Hildreth's History of the United States, Vol. I.; Appleton's Encyclopedia. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. When was the Hudson discovered? 2. By whom? 
3. What was he looking for ? 4. How did New Netherland come to be set- 
tled? 5. What are the present names of this territoiy? 6. Tell of the Pa- 
troons. 7. Increase of the Dutch Colony. 8. Where is Manhattan? 9. What 
is said of the slave ships? 10. Relate the troubles with the Indians. 
11. Where was the treaty of peace signed? 12. Tell of the Dutch and 
Swedish settlements in Delaware. 18. Who was Gustavus Adolphus? 
14. Which power gained Delaware, and how? 15. Find all the places men- 
tioned. 



CHAPTER VI. 

SETTLEMENT OF MARYLAND. 

Clayborne's Settlement on Kent Island, 1627. — The State 
of Maryland belonged to the region originally granted to 
the London ComJ3any. Captain John Smith explored the 
land lying on both sides of the Chesapeake Bay, went up 
the rivers within the limits of Maryland, and even into the 
mouth of the Susquehanna, and made a map of the whole 
country. The fertility of the land attracted settlers, and, in 
1627, William Clayborne, a citizen of Virginia, obtained 
authority from the governor of the colony to explore and 
settle any part of Virginia lying about the northern parts 
of the Chesapeake Bay. Clayborne then took much pains 
and spent a good deal of money in establishing a settlement 
on Kent Island, not far from the city of Annapolis. 




42^ History of the United States. 

Lord Baltimore. — One year after this, there came to Vir- 
ginia the English Lord Baltimore, who was a 
Roman Catholic. The English government did not 
love the Roman Catholics any more than it did 
the Puritans, and Lord Baltimore had tried to 
establish a colony for men of his own faith on the lord 
shore of New Foundland, but had been forced to ''''''"*'°''^- 
give it up on account of the climate and the hostility of the 
French. 

Naming of Maryland. — He then came to Virginia, hoping 
to find an asylum there. But the Virginians were loyal 
to the king and the English Church. Lord Baltimore was 
a man of noble character, fine sense, and excellent disposi- 
tion, but he could not take the oath of supremacy which the 
law required, and he was therefore obliged to go elsewhere. 
He, therefore, returned to England and obtained from 
Charles I. a grant of the territory which now forms the 
State of Maryland, and called it Terra Marise — Mary's 
Land — in honor of Queen Henrietta Maria. This land had 
been given away twice before — once to the London Com- 
pany and once to Clayborne. but that made no diff'erence to 
King Charles. 

" Pilgrims of St. Mary's," 1634.— The first Lord Baltimore 
died before he could take possession of the land, but the 
patent was at once given to his son, Cecil Calvert, the 
second lord, who was a noble, high-souled gentleman like 
his father. Cecil Calvert did not come to America himself, 
but sent his brother Leonard in charge of the first set of colo- 
nists for the new colony. Leonard sailed with two hundred 
companions, gentlemen of fortune and respectability, having 
with them two Jesuit priests. They stopped at James- 
town in 1G34 to pay their respects to the Virginia govern- 
ment. The governor and council received them courte- 
ously, but told them that their grant was not a just one, 
since the territory belonged to Virginia. The new-comers 
then sailed on up the Chesapeake in their two ships. The 
Dove and The Ark. They bought land from the Indians and 
made their first settlement at St. Mary's, from which they 
were sometimes called the " Pilgrims of St. Mary's." 

Religious Freedom. — Like the Pilgrims of Plymouth 
Rock, these colonists had come to the New World seeking a 



Settlement of Maryland. 



43 



place where they might enjoy their religion in peace. The 
recollection of the tortures and burnings under Queen Mary 
was still fresh in English memories. But the Calverts were 
wise and liberal beyond most men of their day, and the 
charter they obtained from the king showed their great wis- 
dom and sagacity. It gave ample power to the lord pro- 
prietor, but it also secured the independence of the colonists, 
and the laws could only be established by the majority of 
the freemen. The proprietor had no authority over the life 
or property of any settler. But, far more than these, it se- 
cured to all not only equal civil, but also equal religious lib- 
erty. Leonard Calvert was the first governor, and in the 

oath which he took is this , , 

memorable sentence: Ml will 

not, by myself or any other, ^ 

directly or indirectly, molest #^ ^ J^, 



%§im 




PILGRIMS OF ST. MARY'S. 



any per- 
son pro- 
'^-^ t". ., fessi ng 
to b e- 
lieve in 
Jesus 
Christ, 

for or in respect of religion." This was before Roger AVil- 
liams became a witness to his belief in civil and religious 
liberty, and Maryland has the honor of being the first coun- 
try on the globe where that grand doctrine was openly pro- 
claimed. It is pleasant to remember that this principle, 
which is now the pride of the United States, was brought 



44 History of the United States. 

to her shores by good, noble, Christian men, sailing in The 
Dove and The Ark. 

Strife Between the Settlements. — Clayborne was much in- 
censed at what he thought an infringement upon his rights. 
He refused to acknowledge the authority of Governor Cal- 
vert, and at last open war broke out between them. At one 
time Clayborne was obliged to flee for his life, and all his 
possessions were confiscated; at another he obtained the 
upper hand and forced Governor Calvert to take refuge in 
Virginia. 

Growth of Maryland. — Through all this strife the Mary- 
land colony prospered and grew. The men learned from 
the Indians the best modes of raising tobacco and Indian 
corn, the women how to make corn-bread and hoe-cakes, 
while the good priests — White and Altham — established 
regular missions among them, which brought numbers of 
the savages into the Christian church. 

AUTHORITIES.— Bancroft's History of the United States, Vols. I., II.; Winsor's 
Narrative and Critical History of the United States, Vols. III., IV.; Campbell's His- 
tory of Virginia; Cooke's History of Virginia; Fiske's History of the United States; 
Hildreth's History of the United States, Vol. I.; Appleton's Encyclopedia. 

QUESTIONS. — 1. Who first explored Chesapeake Bay and made a map of 
it? 2. Who made the first settlement in Maryland, and where? 3. Who was 
Lord Baltimore ? 4. For whom was Maryland named ? 5. Tell of the "Pil- 
grims of St. Mai-y's." 6. Tell some of the laws of the colony, and especially 
in regard to religion. 7. What strife soda arose ? 8. Describe the growth of 
Maryland. 



CHAPTER VII. 

VIRGINIA AND MARYLAND UNDER THE COMMONWEALTH. 

Downfall of Charles I., 1649. — The state of things in 
England was now very bad and had great effect upon the 
colonies in America. Charles I. found himself obliged to 
summon a meeting of Parliament in 1640. This Parlia- 
ment, which at first seemed to promise liberty, afterwards 
showed itself as tyrannical as the king had been, and in 



Virginia and Maryland Under iJte Commonwealth. 45 

1642 the civil war between them began. This strife con- 
tinued with much oppression, destruction and bloodshed 
until 1648, when the king was captured, imprisoned and 
condemned to death. He was executed on January 30, 
1649. 

Sir William Berkeley made Governor of Virginia. — The 
consequences of the disturbances in England were different 
in the different colonies. But it was fortunate for them all 
that the mother country was so much taken up with her 
own affairs that she had little leisure to interfere with 
them ; and so left them to regulate themselves as circum- 
stances should seem to direct. Just about the time that the 
civil war began in England, Sir William Berkeley was made 
governor of Virginia. He was a gentleman of good blood 
and connections, of fine manners and upright principles, 
and, in spite of narrow views of government, was at first 
popular among all classes. He was entirely devoted to the 
king and the royal cause, and to the English Church and 
liturgy, in which sentiments most of the colonists agreed 
with him. 

Laws as to the Church.— Thinking that the troubles in 
England had originated in, and been fostered by, the Puritans 
and those who opposed the established Church, the Assem- 
bly of Virginia passed a law requiring strict conformity to 
the English Church and banishing both Roman Catholics 
and Non-conformists from the colony. Intolerance and 
persecution were freely practiced in those days by all 
nations and churches, but, while we can only blame the 
action of Virginia, we can rejoice that she never was 
stained with the blood of any Christian for dissenting 
from her peculiar faith. Although the assembly felt 
so little the obligation of guaranteeing religious lib- 
erty, it was watchful over the civil rights of the peo- 
ple. At the session of 1642-43, it passed a law forbid- 
ding the governor and council to lay any taxes upon 
persons or property unless the assembly gave them au- 
thority to do so. 

Opecancanough's Second Attack on the Whites. — Hostil- 
ity had continued between the Indians and the colonists ever 
since the massacre in 1622, and twenty-one years afterwards 



46 



History of the United States, 



the assembly enacted that there should be no peace with the 
red men. But the strife among the English at home had 
gotten to the ears of the savages, and they thought the 
time favorable for another onslaught on 
whites. Old Opecancanough was 
11 living, and though one hundred 
'^ears old, blind and feeble, was fierce 
nd vindictive enough to induce 
the Indians to engage in a gene- 
ral massacre. Before the whites 
could organize any resistance, 
five hundred of them were 
killed ; but the murderers 
soon became alarmed and 
fled to the woods. Governor 




^\^ Berkeley collected 
and followed them. 
'^^^ of the 



INDIAN ATTACK. 



a force 
Many 
savages were slain, 
and the aged Opecancanough 
was captured, and carried a 
prisoner to Jamestown. A brutal soldier inflicted on him 
a mortal wound, but the old chief resented more than 
everything else being subjected to the curious gaze of 
the common people who crowded around him. This was 
the last serious trouble with the Indians in lower Virginia. 
A peace was made with Opecancanough's successor, and 
they gradually died out before advancing civilization. 

Prosperity of Virginia. — The colony prospered in every way. 
Unhealthiness disappeared before good cultivation. Trade' 
and commerce increased. Happy homes were established in 
many places; and the ports were busy with ships and emi- 
grants. In 1648 there were ten tradingvessels which came and 
went regularly from London to Virginia ports, two from Ply- 
mouth, twelve from Holland, and seven from New England. 
Loyalty of the Colony. — When Virginia learned that Par- 
liament had triumphed and that the king had been executed, 
the assembly passed an act which declared the loyalty of 
the colony to the late king ; their devotion to his memory ; 
and their adherence to his son, Charles II. There were 
many of the colonists who differed from this opinion, but 
the majority were intensely loyal. A large emigration of 



Virginia and Maryland Under the Commonwealth. 47 

cavaliers and gentlemen who were devoted to the royal 
cause came to Virginia in the next few years, where they 
were everywhere received and welcomed with great hospi- 
tality. Governor Berkeley was especially kind to them, and 
his house and purse were open to them all. 

Virginia Yields to Parliament, 1652. — But Parliament had 
no mind to allow its authority to be defied, and sent out a 
naval force to reduce Virginia as well as some of the West 
Indies, which it declared rebellious. Captain Davies sailed 
into the Virginia waters in 1652 and demanded the surren- 
der of the colony. England was at war with the Dutch, but 
Virginia had never ceased to trade with them on that 
account, and there were several Dutch ships lying at James- 
town. It has been said that Governor Berkeley intended to 
make fight against the English fleet by the aid of the Dutch 
vessels. It may be that seeing the Virginians not without 
defence, the English commander thought it best not to come 
to blows. Certain it is that after some days' consideration 
the colony capitulated on terms most advantageous to its 
rights and liberties. It was stipulated that the people of 
Virginia should have all the freedom and privileges of free- 
born Englishmen, that they should continue to govern 
themselves, and should have the right to trade freely to all 
places and with all nations. Protection was also granted 
to Governor Berkeley, who was permitted to send an agent 
to inform Charles II. of the surrender of the country. 

Religion in the Colony. — Sir AV^illiam Berkeley at once 
withdrew to his country home, and a new government was 
organized and a republican governor elected. Three of 
these governors ruled the colony during the next eight years ; 
but their power was mild and not injurious to the liberty of 
the Virginians. By the treaty, it had been allowed to use 
the English prayer-book and church services for one year, 
but no prohibition was enforced, and public worship con- 
tinued without interruption. It was, no doubt, fortunate for 
the liberties of A^irginia, that so many difficulties arose in 
England between the Parliament and Oliver Cromwell, that 
neither had opportunity to interfere very much with the 
government of the people by their burgesses. The Vir- 
ginians regulated their own taxes, built and garrisoned the 
forts in their borders, ordered all things respecting their 



48 



History of the United States. 



modes of worship and their parishes, traded freely to all 
parts of the world, and extended liberty of conscience to all, 
even the Quakers, who, although excluded from their terri- 
tory in 1660 by an act which was repealed in 1717, still re- 
mained and practiced their religion with little hindrance. 
The government was one of universal suffrage, for all free- 
men were entitled to vote. 

Parliament Triumphs in Maryland. — Clayborne, who had 
contended with Lord Baltimore for the possession of Mary- 
land, was one of the commissioners appointed by Parliament 
to compel the submission of the 
colonies of the Chesapeake Bay. 
From Jamestown he proceeded 
to Maryland, where he estab- 
lished a provisional government 
with Stone at its head. Strife and 
misery followed this change of 
authority. Lord Baltimore tried 
to regain his power and control 
the colony. The Puritan settlers 
who had come into Maryland 
when they were no longer per- 
mitted to remain in Virginia, 
took up arms against Lord Balti- 
more's party, and a bloody fight took place not far from An- 
napolis. The adherents of the Calverts were defeated, the 
priests had to flee for their lives to Virginia; and, under the 
Puritan ascendancy, Roman Catholics were excluded from 
the religious freedom they had allowed to all other Christians. 
Oliver Cromwell did not approve of this persecution, and 
commanded the commissioners "not to busy themselves 
about religion, but to settle the civil government." 

AUTHORITIES.— Bancroft's History of the United States, Vols. I., II.; Winsor's 
Narrative and Critical History of the United States, Vols. III., IV.; Campbell's His- 
tory of Virginia; Cooke's History of Virginia; Fiske's History of the United States; 
Hildreth's History of the United States, Vol.1. ; Appleton's Encyclopedia; Mcllwaine's 
Religious Toleration in Virginia. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. What event happened in England in 1649? 2. Who was 
Governor Berkeley, and what religious laws were passed in his time ? 3. Re- 
late Opecancanoiigh's second war, and his death. 4. Was there any other 
serious Indian war in east Virginia ? 5. Tell of the prosperity of Virginia. 
6. Her loyalty to the English king. 7. Her final yielding to the Parliament under 
Cromwell. 8. What of her trade, her religious liberty, and her self-govern- 
ment ? 9. Tell the story of Maryland during this time. 10. Find on the map all 
the places mentioned. 




CAVALIEE SOLDIER. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



IfEW ENGLAND UNDER THE COMMONWEALTH— RISE OF 

THE QUAKERS. 

Puritans Cease Coming to America. — It has already been 
told you that when the Long Parliament was summoned in 
1G40, the coming of Puritans to New England suddenly 




Early Settlements 

JTEW ESrlJliAND, 

— r and — 

Distribution of the 

Indfan Tribes.' 



100 Bog»OftCoXin. " 



ceased. They found good opportunity then in England to 
employ their enthusiasm and their energies, and so stayed 
at home. 

Self-Government in New England. — The sympathies of 
the Puritans in New England were fully with their fellow- 
4 [49] 



50 History of the United States. 

religionists in the mother country, and they rejoiced when 
the king and the English Church both seemed conquered. 
But their interest in English affairs did not blind them to 
their own. Like Virginia, they profited by the inability of 
England to interfere with them, and regulated their own 
concerns as seemed to them best. The settlements made 
by Mason on the Piscataqua River were annexed to Massa- 
chusetts with their own consent, and without being required 
to give up their clmrchmanship. 

United Colonies of New England, 1643. — When the coming 
of fresh bands of settlers ceased, the colonies found them- 
selves too weak to contend single-handed against the Dutch 
who threatened Connecticut on the west; against the In- 
dians who in strong numbers lay between the scattered set- 
tlementis, and against encroachments of the French on the 
north. For mutual protection and defence, the four colo- 
nies of Massachusetts, Plymouth, Connecticut, and New 
Haven formed a confederacy called " The United Colonies 
of New England," which greatly promoted the prosperity of 
them all. Each colony was to retain its individual govern- 
ment and rights, to regulate its own taxes and internal con- 
cerns, and each sent two commissioners to direct the affairs 
of the confederacy. The commissioners had authority to 
legislate concerning peace and war, and especially on all 
questions regarding the Indians; but nothing they decreed 
became a law unless the people in the colonies agreed to it. 
The only qualification insisted on was that every commis- 
sioner must be a member of one of the churches. This con- 
federacy did not include the settlements in Maine, and the 
colonies in Rhode Island were refused admittance to the 
benefits of it because of their liberal views of religious free- 
dom. 

Strife with the Indians. — The principal office of the con- 
federacy was to secure the settlements against the Indians. 
The Narragansetts and the Mohegans were the tribes nearest 
them, and the two were deadly enemies. Gorton, a friend 
of Anne Hutchinson in Rhode Island, was much disliked in 
Massachusetts for the wild doctrines he preached. He had 
bought from Miantonomo, the chief of the Narragansetts, a 
tract of land on Narragansett Bay. Two other chiefs 
claimed the land and asked Massachusetts to protect their 



New England — Rise of the Quakers. 



51 



rights. Hating Gorton and any friend of his, tlie commis- 
sioners summoned them all to Boston, and decided the ques- 
tion against Gorton and Miantonomo. Uncas, the chief of 
the Mohegans, took advantage of the trouble to kill and 
scalp some of the Narragansetts. Miantonomo in his turn 
attacked the Mohegans, was defeated and captured. No 
doubt he would have been tortured to death immediately, 
but that Gorton threatened Uncas with dire vengeance if 
his friend were injured. Uncas sent his prisoner to the 
commissioners at Boston to decide his fate. The commis- 
sioners were puzzled what sentence to give, and they laid 
the question before the ministers who were holding a synod 
in Boston. 

Killing of Miantonomo. — There was no English law under 
which Miantonomo could be put to death, but either through 

fear of the Mohegans, or ha- 
tred to Gorton, the preachers 
quickly decided that the cap- 
tive chief must die, and sent 
him back to Uncas, accompa- 
nied by two men to ensure that 
he should not be tortured. 
Uncas marched his enemy to 
the battlefield where he had 
defeated him, and then gave 
the sign to a Mohegan war- 
rior, who instantly buried his 
tomahawk in Miantonomo's 
brain. Uncas tore the flesh 
from the quivering body, and 
devoured it in savage triumph. Gorton and his followers 
were now captured and brought to trial, and by the clergy 
convicted of heresy, and condemned to death. This sen- 
tence was not, however, executed. 

John Eliot. — .Just here, I will tell you of the last and 
worst outbreak of the Indians in New England, in 1675. 
The constantly increasing strength of the white men made 
the Indians very uneasy. Massasoit's treat}^ and the terror 
produced by the Pequot massacre, however, kept them quiet, 
as has been before mentioned, for thirty-eight years. Many 
efforts were made to elevate and Christianize them during 




CHUECH AT HARTFOKD, 1038. 



52 



History of the United States. 




JOHN ELIOT. 



this time. John Eliot, a man of great learning and piety, 
devoted his life to this work. He studied the Indian lan- 
guage so thoroughly that he made a gram- 
mar of it and translated the Bible into it. 
His labors and those of the other mission- 
aries were so successful that in 1674 there 
were 4,000 Christians — " praying Indians " — 
in Massachusetts. Most of these seemed j\ 
friendly to the whites, but their brethren 
were becoming constantly more hostile to 
them. 

Outbreak of King Philip's War, 1675.— 
By this time the Indians had learned the use of firearms. 
Philip, son of Massasoit, the chief of the Wampanoags, 
was the leader in a bloody war which broke out between the 
Indians and the whites in June of this year. Philip and 
his tribe and the Narragansetts were near neighbors of 
the Massachusetts and Rhode Island settlements. They 
numbered about 1,700 warriors. 

Attack on Swanzey and Other Places. — The first attack 
was made on Swanzey on a Sunday in June. The village 

was burned and the people 
savagely butchered. When 
the Indians were driven from 
one place they swooped down 
upon another with fire, tor- 
ture, and murder, sparing 
neither men, women, nor 
children. The Nip mucks in 
the Connecticut Valley took 
up the quarrel and inflicted 
the same outrages on the set- 
tlements there. When the 
Wampanoags were defeated, 
Philip took refuge among the Nipmucks and the work of 
destruction grew worse than ever. 

End of the War. — Canonchet, the sachem of the Narra- 
gansetts, had never forgiven the English for their share in 
the murder of his father, Miantonomo, and with his tribe 
took part in the war. Just within the borders of Rhode 
Island he had established a palisaded stronghold in the 




THE HIDDEN FOE. 



Settlement of New England. 63 

midst of a swamp, which he held with 3,000 Indians. 
Against this a force of 1,000 white men carried on such a 
fierce attack that the fortress was captured and 1,000 of the 
Narragansetts slain. The war still went on until Philip 
and Canonchet were both shot, and their followers nearly 
annihilated. Those Indians who were captured, Philip's 
little son, only nine years old, among them, were taken to 
the West Indies and sold into slavery. In this terrible 
struggle twelve towns were entirely destroyed, more than 
forty others had suffered from fire and bloodshed, and more 
than 1,000 of the whites were slain. Even after the Indian 
power in southern New England was broken, the same sav- 
age warfare was kept up in the scattered settlements in 
Maine. 

Effort to Obtain Equal Rights. — A party had by this time 
.arisen in Massachusetts which was opposed to the religious 
intolerance of the colony, and especially to the restriction 
of the right of suffrage to Puritan church members. The 
great religious contest in England now was between the 
Puritans or Independents, and the Presbyterians. Parliament 
was Presbyterian, the army under Cromwell mainly Inde- 
pendent. The Puritans of New England were as hostile to 
the Presbyterians as they had ever been to the Church of 
England. Quite a number of Presbyterians had come to 
Massachusetts, and their leading men, emboldened by the 
enlarged views of some of the people, petitioned to be ad- 
mitted to communion with the New England churches and 
to equal civil rights. This petition enraged the Massachu- 
setts authorities. The men who signed it were heavily fined 
and put in jail for six months. A synod of the clergy from 
all the churches of the colonies was called, and the Congre- 
gational Church was organized and made the established 
church of the colonies; and this by the very men who had 
so bitterly opposed an established church in England. 

New England S3rmpathizes with Cromwell, 1648. — These 
events took place before the overthrow of the monarchy and 
the execution of Charles I. The New England Confede- 
racy, although they were opposed to the king, did not tamely 
submit to the Parliament, refused to surrender their charter 
to Parliament, and likewise declined to take a hostile position 
against the Dutch on Manhattan Island. Their sympathies 



54 History of the United States. 

were with Cromwell and the army. The great Lord Pro- 
tector looked upon them with peculiar favor, and always 
left them their independence and favored their trade. 
When his stern policy and far-sighted statesmanship had 
subdued Ireland, and taken possession of Jamaica, he 
offered each of these smiling islands to the New Englanders 
in exchange for their barren rocky territory. But while 
Massachusetts would not herself yield to the Parliament, 
she was very willing to censure others for not doing so, and 
passed resolutions prohibiting all intercourse with Virginia 
until that colony should acknowledge the supremacy of the 
Commonwealth. This statute was, however, soon repealed, 
because it was found injurious to the commerce of New 
England. 

Rise of the Quakers. — One of the remarkable men who 
arose in England about this period was George Fox, a brave, 
pious man, who after much distress and perplexity of mind 
thought that he had received a special enlightenment from 
heaven, and that he was obliged to communicate his belief 
to every one else, which he at once began to do. A number 
of followers received his teachings, who called themselves 
Friends, though others gave them in derision the name 
" Quakers." They went further than the Puritans had ever 
done in abolishing forms and ceremonies, and said that the 
Scripture directions to say " yea, yea," "nay, nay," must be 
literally fulfilled. They allowed no distinction of titles, as 
master and mistress, but addressed all by their Chris- 
tian names. They thought that fighting and contention 
were wrong, and always wore their hats as a proof that 
they rendered homage to no human creature, but to God 
alone. These things seem rather trifling and amusing, and 
to do harm to no one. Certainly in their lives the Quakers 
did harm to no living creature, but showed kindness and 
benevolence to all. But unfortunately for themselves they 
thought it their duty to "testify before the Lord " concern- 
ing everything that was contrary to the "inward light" 
which each one thought shone in his own soul, and which 
they claimed freed them from obedience to any other law. 

Persecution of the Quakers. — Now, whether the real 
purity of the Quakers' lives, or their disagreeable habit of 
speaking their minds on all occasions to all sorts of people, 



New England — Rise of the Quakers. 55 

set others against them, is hard to say. But it is certain 
that they were thoroughly hated and even persecuted by the 
whole of Christendom. In England, Churchman, Presbyte- 
rian, Puritan, and Independent alike despised and ill-treated 
them. Parliament sentenced them to fines, whipping, im- 
prisonment, and exile; sometimes even they were sold into 
slavery. Cromwell, grand and successful ruler as he was, 
proved no protector to them. But it was in Massachusetts 
that they met their worst fate. Winthrop, the wise, noble- 
minded governor of Massachusetts, and Cotton, the leading 
spirit among the preachers, had not long died, when their 
" inward light " brought some of these hated Quakers, two 
women, Anne Austin and Mary Fisher, to Boston. Gover- 
nor Winthrop had been succeeded by Governor Endicott, 
who was filled with the spirit of persecution. Endicott was 
absent when the Quaker women arrived, and there was, as 
yet, no law enacted against the Quakers. But the deputy- 
governor seized the two poor women and locked them up in 
jail, where their windows were boarded up to keep them 
from preaching to the crowd outside. A council, hastily 
summoned, pronounced their doctrines blasphemous and 
devilish; their books were taken and burned, and the poor 
creatures nearly starved in the jail until they could be 
shipped back to Barbadoes. 

Quakers Banished from the United Colonies. — Eight other 
Quakers came immediately to the colony. Massachusetts 
not only decided to banish them, but asked Rhode Island to 
do the same thing. Roger Williams disliked the Quakers 
too, but he was true to his principles and declined to pro- 
ceed against them, and when Massachusetts in a rage 
threatened to cut off trade with her, Rhode Island appealed 
to Cromwell. The four United Colonies then passed laws 
banishing the Quakers and decreeing severe punishment 
to ship captains who should bring any of them to their 
shores. These laws were not all equally severe. Those of 
Connecticut were the mildest. But in Massachusetts they 
were very harsh. 

Further Persecution. — The Quakers persisted in coming 
in spite of prohibition. So it was enacted that the first 
offence of returning to the colony was to be punished with 
flogging and imprisonment with hard labor; the second with 



56 History of the United States. 

cutting off the ears; for the third the tongue was to be 
bored through with a hot iron. Still the Quakers would 
come and testify, and in 1658 the federal commissioners at 
Boston decreed that capital punishment should be inflicted 
on them. Massachusetts was the only colony that agreed 
to the making of this savage law, and, strange to say, it 
seems to have been adopted there by the influence of Gov- 
ernor Endicott and the preachers ! To be sure. Governor 
Endicott did beg that none of the banished Quakers would 
return. But some of them soon came, expressly to defy the 
law. Two men and one woman were sentenced to death. 
The woman was rescued by her son, who promised to take 
her away. The men were hung and their bodies refused 
Christian burial. This same woman, Mrs. Dyer, came back 
again and was hung. One more man was put to death and 
another sentenced, before public opinion revolted against 
such unreasonable barbarity, and even then savage old 
Endicott might have succeeded in having others executed, 
had not Charles II., who had just come to the throne, inter- 
fered and stopped the cruel proceedings against the Quakers. 

AUTHORITIES.— Bancroft's History of the United States. Vols. I., II.; Winsor's 
Narrative and Critical History of tlie United States Vols. III., IV.; Campbell's His- 
tory of Virginia; Fiske's History of the United States; Hildreth's History of the 
United States, Vol. I.; Appleton's Encyclopedia; Fiske's Beginnings of New England. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. Why did no more Puritans eomo to America after 1640? 
2. How did the New England C'olonies use their freedom from English con- 
trol? 3. What union was made, 1()48? 4. For what reasons? 5. On what 
conditions? 6. Tell of the Indian troubles, and of Gorton, Miantonomo, and 
Uneas. 7. Death of Miantonomo. 8. What missionaiy worked among the 
Indians, and with what results? 9. Tell of King Philip's War; death of 
Canonchet and Philip. 10. Its results. 11. What petition was made by the 
Presbyterians, and what church esta])lished in th(^ United Colonies ? 12. With 
which party in England did New England sympathize, and why ? 13. Tell of 
George Fox and the Quakers. 14. Persecution of the Quakers. 15. Their 
banishment from Massachusetts. 16. What do they call themselves ? 17. What 
stopped the last persecution ? 



CHAPTER IX. 

VIRGINIA AFTER THE RESTORATION. 

The Restoration in England, 1660. — Charles II. was 
brought back to the English throne in 1660. He was a 
selfish, profligate, unprincipled man, whose only good trait 
was an indolent kind-heartedness. As a king he cared 
nothing for the good of his subjects, but only for his own 
wicked pleasures. 

The Restoration in Virginia. — The Virginians had con- 
tinued loyal to the monarchy, and, when the last republican 
governor, Matthews, died, they elected Sir William Berkeley, 
who was loyal to King Charles, and who was at the head of 
the colony when the restoration took place. The king soon 
confirmed Berkele}^ in his power, and sent him instructions 
as to the manner in which the colony was to be governed. 
There was much rejoicing in Virginia when "the king came 
to his own again." A new assembly was elected composed 
almost entirely of royalists, who showed themselves ready 
to comply with the will of the king, by passing laws and 
instituting practices contrary to the spirit of liberty which 
had flourished in the colony. 

Freedom of the Colonies Restricted. — The English Parlia- 
ment now restricted all trade from the colonies, to English 
ports and to English vessels, and imposed such heavy taxes 
upon the colonists that they became greatly dissatisfied, and 
sent Governor Berkeley to England to ask for milder and 
more considerate legislation. Virginia had been so loyal to 
the king that she naturally expected that he would show 
her some favor. But her hopes were disappointed. Berke- 
ley did nothing for the colony, although he took care to pro- 
cure a large grant of territory for himself and some of his 
friends. He came back to Virginia fully imbued with the 
spirit of intolerance and oppression which prevailed in 
England. The assembly had been elected for two j^ears, 
but continued to hold authority for nearly fourteen. Taxes 
were laid without consent of the people. None but land- 
owners and housekeepers were permitted to vote. Large 

[57] 



58 History of the United States. 

salaries were ordered to be paid to the governor and all 
members of the government. Religious toleration was with- 
drawn, and strict conformity to and attendance upon the 
Church of England required. 

Resistance. — The liberty-loving Virginians could not 
quietly submit to these unjust restrictions, and tried va- 
rious ways of resisting them. At one time the planters 
resolved to plant only small crops of tobacco, so as to raise 
the price and lessen the burden of taxation. At another 
time a considerable insurrection against the authorities was 
organized secretly, and might have proved formidable but 
that one of the conspirators betrayed the plot to his master. 
Immediately a counterplot was laid, and the insurgents were 
to be seized and disarmed one by one as they came to the 
appointed meeting place. Many took the alarm and escaped, 
but of those captured four wore hanged. 

Giving Away the Lands of the Colonists. — While the pros- 
perity of Virginia was crippled by Parliament, and the free- 
dom and rights of the people restricted by tlieir own assem- 
bly, the greatest wrong done to them was perpetrated by the 
king himself. Charles first gave Lord Culpeper the country 
called the " Northern Neck," lying between the Potomac and 
Rappahannock Rivers, although many plantations had been 
settled there, and then proceeded to give to the Earl of 
Arlington for thirty-one years, " all the dominion of land 
and water called Virginia." This reckless bestowal upon 
others of the lands which their courage and labor had re- 
claimed from the savages and brought into cultivation; the 
threatened destruction of their homes, their property, and all 
their liberties, could not be tamely borne by the Virginians. 

Petition to the King. — The people could scarcely be influ- 
enced to abstain from revolting against such unjust tyranny; 
and the assembly itself, which, under a false idea of the 
rights of the king and the blessings to be hoped from a 
re-established monarchy, had done wrong to the colony by 
harsh and unjust legislation, was now aroused to vindicate 
its rights. Three agents were sent by the burgesses to Eng- 
land to remonstrate with the king for setting over them 
any authority save his own. To show their faithful loyalty 
they requested that Berkeley should be made governor for 
life, while they humbly asked that they should not be 



Virginia After the Restoration. 59 

submitted to their fellow-subjects and enslaved to their 
will. 

Efforts to Secure a New Charter. — The agents nobly car- 
ried out their instructions to secure for the colony the rights 
of a corporation ; in other words, a new charter. They did 
more. They engaged able counsel, and enlisted strong 
influence to plead for them, while they asserted the natural 
liberties of the colonists, claimed for them the birthright 
as Englishmen to legislate for themselves, and insisted that 
they should not be liable to arbitrary taxation. But all 
they could say and do was in vain. The agents were kept 
in London a whole year without receiving any satisfaction. 
In the mean time things were going from bad to worse in 
Virginia. 

Trouble with the Indians. — It has never been the habit of 
the Virginia settlers to congregate in towns. Their principal 
occupation was raising tobacco, which being planted for suc- 
cessive years on the same soil greatly exhausts the land and 
requires new soil every few years. The planters were thus 
accustomed to take up large tracts of land and to live isolated 
one from another. The distance between their settlements 
made them specially liable to Indian attack and outrage. 
The Tidewater Indians had been subdued, but in 1656, nearly 
twenty years before this time, a body of Ricahecrian Indians, 
a fierce mountain tribe, poured down into the country 
around the falls of James River and seemed disposed to 
settle there. A force of the colonists and their allies, the 
Pamunkey Indians, had a desperate fight with them, which 
was not very successful, and Totopotomoi, the Pamunkey 
chief, was killed. From that time the Ricahecrians had 
continued to infest the Piedmont country and to commit 
outrages upon the peaceful settlers. The Indians north of 
the Potomac now also showed an alarming spirit of hostility 
not only to the Marylanders, but also to the Virginians. 

Expedition Against Them. — Against the Susquehannocks, 
who had fortified themselves in Maryland, an expedition 
was organized by the people of Maryland under Major Tru- 
man, and by the people of Virginia, under Colonel John 
Washington, great-grandfather of George Washington. 
Many of the Indians escaped, crossed over into Virginia, 
and carried murder and cruelty everywhere. The whole 



60 



History of the United States. 



country was in a state of terror. The families of the settlers 
were crowded together in the houses which seemed to offer 
the best protection. The men worked or moved from place 
to place in bands, carrying their arms, and always keeping 
on the watch for their unseen foes. In this dire distress 
Governor Berkeley did nothingtoprotectthe colonists and the 
people resolved to take their defence into their own hands. 
Nathaniel Bacon Against the Indians. — Nathaniel Bacon, 
a young Englishman of good family, dauntless courage, and 
fine education, had come to A^irginia about three years 
*., ^.X ^ before. He had settled on the lower 

"-fc^ '" '-, James River, and speedily became popu- 
'^A lar for his hospitality, his affability, and 
i^-^ benevolence. Like his neighbors. Bacon 
experienced the dangers of the 
Indian raids, and when his 
overseer and one of his ser- 
vants were murdered on his 
plantation near the site of 
Richmond, he, too, vowed 
vengeance upon the savages. 
The sufferers from the In- 
dians now had a leader 
ready to c o m m a n d them, 
on whose courage they 
could rely. They assem- 
bled in hundreds, chose 
Bacon for their commander, 
and applied to Governor Berkeley to give him a commis- 
sion. 

Governor Berkeley's Injustice to Bacon. — Bacon M^as a 
member of the council, and Berkeley was unfriendly to him 
on account of his liberal views and opposition to tyranny, 
and therefore would not give the commission. The danger 
from the Indians became every hour more serious, and, 
without waiting for the commission. Bacon moved forward 
against the savages. Berkeley,* enraged at what he consid- 
ered a defiance of his authority, issued a proclamation de- 
claring all who did not return to their homes, rebels and 
traitors. The majority of Bacon's men, fearing the conse- 
quences, yielded to this threat and went home. But Bacon, 




EARLY SETTLERS. 



Virginia After the Restoration. 61 

with about fifty men, pressed on and inflicted severe pun- 
ishment on the Indians. Berkeley had collected a force to 
pursue Bacon, when tidings reached him which compelled 
him to return to Jamestown. The people of the lower coun- 
ties, considering that the long continued assembly was the 
cause of their troubles, rose up in arms and demanded that 
it should be at once dissolved. So universal was this de- 
mand that Berkeley was compelled to comply with it. The 
old assembly was dissolved, and writs wore issued for the 
election of a new one. The county of Henrico returned 
Bacon as their delegate, and many of the assembly were of 
his way of thinking. 

Seeming Adjustment of the Difficulty. — But Berkeley could 
not forgive Bacon, and had him arrested on his way to 
Jamestown. The new assembly was friendly to Bacon, and 
succeeded in making a compromise between him and the 
governor. Bacon was to acknowledge that he had been in 
the wrong, ask pardon of the governor, and promise not 
to offend again. He was then promised a commission and 
appointed commander-in-chief of the force against the In- 
dians. Bacon performed his part of the agreement, and was 
permitted to take his seat in the house. The new assembly 
then set about repealing the oppressive laws of the former 
ones, and redressing the grievances of the people; and for 
a while it seemed as if freedom and justice were restored to 
Virginia. 

AUTHORITIES.— Bancroft's History of the United States, Vols. III.. IV. ; Winsor's 
Narrative and Critical History of the United States, Vols. III., IV. ; Ilildreth's History 
of the United States, Vol. I.; Fiske's History of the United States; Campbell's and 
Cooke's Histories of Virginia; Macaulay's History of England; Tucker's Hansford; 
Appleton's Encyclopedia. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. What is meant by the Restoration in England? 2. How 
did it afflict Virginia? 3. What later changes? 4. What feeling then arose 
and wliat opposition? .'5. What act of injustice did the king now commit 
against the people of Virginia? 6. Where is the " Noi-thern Neck," and Ar- 
lington? 7. What steps did the assembly take? 8. With what success, or 
ill-success? 9. Tell of the Indian settlement about the falls of the James. 

10. Of the expedition against the Susquehannocks, and under what leaders. 

11. Who was Nathaniel Bacon? 12. Why was Governor Berkeley not friendly 
to him? 13. What difficulty arose, and how was it settled ? 14. Was Bacon 
a patriot? 15. Why did he wish to get a commission and raise an army? 



CHAPTER X. 



BACON'S REBELLION. 

Bacon's Boldness, 1676. — Governor Berkeley now seemed 
to become daily more arbitrary. He was unwilling to sanc- 
tion any decrees of the assembly, and refused absolutely to 
sign the commission promised to Bacon. The young leader 
learned that the governor was plotting against his liberty 
and life, and withdrew secretly from Jamestown. Great in- 
dignation was felt at the injustice done him, and men quickly 








^m^^i 



A FAIR MAEK— shoot!' 



flocked around him. Meantime the Indian outrages grew 
worse and worse, and resistance to them became a necessity. 
At the head of four hundred men Bacon marched to James- 
town, and demanded the promised commission from the 
governor and council. Berkeley had summoned the militia 
to defend Jamestown, but could only collect one hundred 
men. The rest had joined Bacon. 

[62] 



Bacon's Rebellion. 63 

Bacon Obtains the Commission. — When Bacon appeared at 
the head of his troops, and asked for an interview with the 
governor, the old cavalier, who was no coward, advanced 
towards the troops, bared his breast, and called out with a 
loud voice, "A fair mark — shoot!" Bacon replied courteously 
that they had not come to harm him or any other man, but 
only for the commission promised him, that they might 
have authority to defend themselves and their friends from 
the Indians — and that they intended to have it. The bur- 
gesses were all anxious to give the commission, and in spite 
of his reluctance the governor was at last induced to sign it. 
Not only so, but he joined the burgesses and council in 
sending high praises of Bacon's zeal, loyalty, and patriotism 
to England, and also ratified the wise and beneficial laws 
made by the assembly. 

Berkeley Declares Bacon a Rebel. — There was great re- 
joicing in the colony when Bacon secured his commission, 
and marched against the Indians. But the joy was short- 
lived. Berkeley, enraged at having been obliged to give up his 
own will, declared that Bacon was a rebel and a traitor, and 
that his commission was forfeited. He then went to the loyal 
county of Gloucester, and tried to raise a force to go against 
Bacon. To his disgust the people would not join him, but 
said that they considered Bacon their brother and defender. 

Bacon's Return to the Coast. — Tidings of Berkeley's 
treachery and hostility were carried to Bacon by two earnest 
patriots, Drummond and Lawrence. The young commander 
was roused to righteous anger, and at once marched to 
Gloucester to compel the governor to keep his word. But 
Berkeley had no mind to meet the man he had so greatly 
wronged. He first took away the powder and ammunition 
from Fort York, which was the principal defence of that 
part of Virginia, and then crossed the Chesapeake Bay to 
Accomac, where he tried to collect an army by threats and 
bribery. 

Bacon's Rebellion Against Tyranny. — Bacon now called on 
all the freemen of the colony to assemble in convention and 
free the colony from Berkeley's tyranny. This call brought 
together a large assembly of citizens to " Middle Planta- 
tions," afterwards Williamsburg. They were enthusiastic in 
the cause of their liberties, and declared that Governor 



64 



History of the United States. 



Berkeley had abdicated his office by his retreat. Bacon and 
four other members of the council issued writs for the elec- 
tion of a convention to govern the colony. The whole con- 
vention took an oath to protect Bacon against the governor, 
and to join him against the Indians. They also signed a 
paper setting forth their grievances under the Navigation 
laws, the oppressive taxes, and their unprotected exposure 
to Indian barbarities. They even said that as Berkeley had 
declared them rebels and traitors, and had asked the king 
to send troops against them, they would resist those troops 
until the king could be told the true state of affairs in the 
colony. 

First Declaration of Rights, 1676. — I would like you to 
remember that these things were done in the year 1676, just 
one hundred years before the Declaration of Independence 
was written by another young Virginian leader, and signed 
by another assembly of American freemen. 

Defeat of Indians at Bloody Run. — When these measures 

had been taken, Bacon and his 
army marched against the In- 
dians. He destroyed several 
hostile towns, and then at- 
tacked them in their strong- 
hold near Richmond, routed 
them completely, and broke 
their power in Virginia for- 
ever. How desperate this fight 
was is told by the name of the 
little stream along which it was 
fought, which has ever since 
been known as " Bloody Run." 
Burning of Jamestown. — Berkeley collected in Accomac 
a body of followers consisting of servants to whom he 
promised their freedom, idlers to whom he promised abun- 
dant plunder, Indians, and white men as degraded as 
they. With these and the English vessels in the Chesa- 
peake Bay he returned to Jamestown, and again proclaimed 
Bacon a traitor and a rebel. As soon as Bacon learned of 
the governor's return he got together such of his men as 
could be hastily summoned and marched upon Jamestown. 
Berkeley's larger force was intimidated at Bacon's approach. 




BLOODY RUN. 



Bacon's Rebellion. 65 

and after making an unsuccessful sally against him, they 
stole off in the night to their ships. Bacon entered the 
deserted town the next morning, and, to prevent its harbor- 
ing his enemies again, determined to burn it. Lawrence 
and Drummond themselves set fire to their two excellent 
houses, and the town was soon reduced to ashes. Bacon 
then moved northward to meet a force of twelve hundred 
men which was coming against him. But most of the men 
deserted their leaders and joined him. 

Death of Bacon. — While he was thus engaged in defend- 
ing the principles of free government, and preparing to 
march again against the Indians, he was taken with an ill- 
ness from fatigue and exposure, and died. His friends, 
fearing that some outrage might be committed upon his 
dead body, buried him secretly, and his grave is still un- 
known. He was a noble, high-souled man, a lover of free- 
dom, and a true patriot, and but for his untimely death 
might possibly have achieved liberty for Virginia a hundred 
years before she did win it. 

Berkeley's Vengeance. — After Bacon's death, his followers 
vainly attempted to continue resistance to the royalist 
power, but they were scattered and gradually disheartened. 
Berkeley, backed by commissioners from England, hunted 
down, captured, and hanged twenty-two of the most promi- 
nent of Bacon's followers, and such a reaction took place 
that for years the Virginians were more oppressed than 
ever. 

Planters Resist Oppressive Laws, 1677. — Berkeley was 
recalled to England in 1677, and died soon after, some said 
of mortification at not being able to regain the favor of the 
king. Culpeper, his successor, who was appointed for life, 
proved to be very covetous, and oppressed the Virginians 
by every means which promised to wring money from them. 
The English passed a law requiring that towns be built at 
specified places, and that no tobacco or produce be 
shipped except at these towns. This bore very hardly upon 
the planters who were scattered along the rivers, and on the 
low-grounds of all the streams. They therefore openly dis- 
obeyed the law, and when the government showed signs of 
displeasure, the planters in several counties destroyed their 
young plants, that the government should not reap the 

5 



66 History of the United States. 

profit it had lioped for, Tliis was considered so serious an 
offence that it was declared to be treason and was punished 
with hanging. 

Treaty with the Five Nations, 1684. — Culpeper was suc- 
ceeded by Lord Effingham. Not long after he came into 
power, the frontiers of Virginia were threatened by war 
parties from the Five Nations. It was thought most pru- 
dent to treat with these Indians in New York, and accord- 
ingly, Governor Effingham, with Governor Dongan, of New 
York, and commissioners from Massachusetts, held a con- 
ference at Albany with the sachems of the Mohawk, Oneida, 
Onondago, and Cayuga tribes. After much talking on both 
sides, a covenant of peace was entered into, the tomahawk 
was buried, the peace-pipes were smoked, and the Indians 
chanted their songs of peace. This was in 1684, the year in 
which the charter of Massachusetts was taken from her. 

Maryland after the Restoration. — Maryland fared much 
better after the Restoration than Virginia. With the return 
of the king, Lord Baltimore regained his power over the 
colony, but he exercised it so wisely and beneficially that 
Maryland prospered and increased steadily in wealth and 
population. 

AUTHORITIES.— Bancroft's History of the United States, Vols. III.. IV ; Winsor's 
Narrative and Critical History of the United States, Vols. III., IV.; Hildreth's History 
of the United States, Vol.1.; Fiske's History of the United States; Campbeirs and 
Cooke's Histories of Virginia; Macaulay's History of England; Tucker's Hansford. 
Fiske's Beginnings of New England; Appleton's Encyclopedia. 

QUESTIONS. — 1. How did Governor Berkeley treat Baeon, and what did 
Bacon do? 2. Tell of his interview with the old governor, and of the action 
of the council. 3. What did Berkeley then call Bacon? 4. What order did 
he give? 5. Where did he go ? 6. What step did Bacon now take ? 7. Who 
wrote the Declaration of Independence just one hundred years after this? 
[Thomas Jefterson.] 8. Tell of the attack and defeat of the Indians at Bloody 
Run. 9. The burning of Jamestown. 10. Why was it burnt? 11. Der„th 
and burial of Bacon. 12. Berkeley's vengeance. 18. Berkeley's death. 
14. What law was made which the planters resisted? 15. Tell of the treaty 
with the Five Nations in 1684. 16. Who was then governor of Virginia? of 
New York? 17. How did Maiyland fare? 18. Find the places on the map. 



CHAPTER XI. 

NORTHERN COLONIES AFTER THE RESTORATION— SETTLE- 
MENT OF THE GAROLINAS. 

New England After the Restoration. — The return of 

Charles II. to the throne affected the New England colonies 
in very different ways. As they had been settled by those 
who had opposed his father, and as two of his father's 
judges had taken shelter in Massachusetts and New Haven, 
it was not unnatural that the English king should not be 
very friendly to them. When news of his restoration to 
power came over the sea, the colonies of Connecticut, Hart- 
ford, Plymouth, Rhode Island, and even New Haven, pro- 
claimed him king. Massachusetts took no notice of the 
change of government for more than a year. 

Charter of Connecticut. — Connecticut at once sent over 
her governor, John Winthrop, a prudent, wise, and accom- 
plished gentleman, to represent her interests to the king, 
and to ask for a charter. Winthrop enlisted the influence 
of the aged Lord Sa3^-and-Seal in behalf of his errand, and 
was successful in procuring from the king a very liberal 
charter for the Connecticut Colony, in which Hartford and 
New Haven were both included. This charter allowed the 
people to make their own laws, and elect their own officers, 
and gave to Connecticut a jurisdiction extending westward 
to the Pacific Ocean. 

Charter of Rhode Island. — To Rhode Island Charles 
showed even a more friendly spirit and granted it all the 
privileges for which Roger Williams had asked. The king 
ma}'^ have wished to limit the power of Massachusetts, and 
show his disfavor to New Haven, by thus encouraging their 
neighbors; but from whatever motive he acted, he did a 
good part in granting these excellent charters, and the colo- 
nies of Connecticut and Rhode Island grew and prospered 
for a number of years. 

Independence of Massachusetts — Her Subjection. — 
Charles, for a while, took no hostile steps against Massa- 
chusetts, though there was mutual antagonism between 
them. Indeed, he promised to respect her charter if she 

[67] 



68 History of the United States. 

would administer justice in his name, allow the right of 
voting to all citizens, and permit the services of the Church 
of England to be held in the colony. The people of Mas- 
sachusetts complied with the first direction, but took no no- 
tice of the others. After a few years, the king's dislike 
manifested itself. Complaints of the independence and 
arrogance of the colony were poured into his ears. It had 
coined money for its own use; it had traded freely with the 
other colonies and with European ports; it sturdily maintained 
its right to govern itself; and the king determined to assert 
his authority. In 1664, notwithstanding the charter he had 
granted to Connecticut, and the settlements of the Dutch 
in New Netherland, Charles bestowed upon his brother, the 
Duke of York, along with the country between the Kenne- 
bec and St. Croix Rivers, the territory stretching from the 
Connecticut to the Delaware River. The war-ships which 
came to take possession of this grant brought also to Boston 
commissioners appointed to look into the affairs of New 
England. In 1684 Charles sent agents to Boston to inquire 
whether his conditions of seventeen years before had been 
complied with. You have seen that they had not. The 
king demanded that the charter should be surrendered to 
him, and, when the assembly declined to do so, he annulled 
it, and converted the whole region into a royal province. 

New Netherland Becomes New York, 1674. — England w as 
at peace with Holland, but she did not scruple to attack the 
Dutch colony, and the New England settlements saw no wrong 
in it. Not only did Massachusetts furnish a 
contingent of soldiers, but the excellent 
Governor Winthrop of Connecticut sailed 
with Nicholls, the commander of the expe- 
dition, to counsel New Amsterdam to sur- 
render to the English crown. Many English 
emigrants had moved into the Dutch ter- 
ritory, and had, before this, begun to de- 
mand the right to choose their own officers, 
GOV. STUYVESANT. j^^^ke thclr own laws, and lay their own 
tolls. When the English vessels appeared in the harbor at 
New Amsterdam, Governor Stuyvesant found the majority 
of the people in the colony so opposed to him and his arbi- 
trary rule, that he was forced to jdeld. A continuance of 




Northern Colonies — The Carolinas. 69 

their liberties, their rights, and their property was guaran- 
teed to the colonists. New Netherland became New York. 
Fort Orange had its name changed to Albany. The league 
which had been made by the Dutch with the Five Nations 
was renewed by the English governors, and the entire 
change was peaceably affected. 

Delaware Settlements Become New Jersey. — In a few 
months, the Dutch and Swedish settlements on the Dela- 
ware also submitted to England, which now possessed the 
whole Atlantic coast. The Duke of York gave the territory 
they occupied to two English noblemen, and under the name 
of New Jersey it now became a separate colony. 

The Carolinas Given Away by the King, 1663. — A year 
before bestowing the territory of New York, New Jersey, 
and Delaware upon his brother. King Charles had given to 
a company of lords and gentlemen, among whom was Gov- 
ernor Berkeley of Virginia, the territory now known as the 
States of North and South Carolina. The southern part of 
this grant was claimed by Spain ; the northern part had 
been included in the grant to the Virginia Company, and 
had, besides, been promised in parts to different individuals. 
But King Charles regarded neither the promises of his 
father and grandfather, nor his own, and he now gave to 
eight of his courtiers the whole country between 31° and 
36° of latitude, stretching all the way to the Pacific Ocean. 
The charter bestowed almost absolute power upon the pro- 
prietary owners, though it contained clauses guaranteeing, 
at the same time, the right of legislation and religious free- 
dom to the freemen of the colony. 

Settlements in North Carolina. — This was not an unset- 
tled country, as Virginia and New England had been. Pu- 
ritans had come from New England to the banks of the 
Cape Fear River, and when Non conformists had been ban- 
ished from Virginia they moved southward to the banks of 
the Chowan and along Albemarle Sound. Settlers had also 
come thither from Barbadoes, so that there were several 
established settlements and scattered hamlets in the eastern 
part of the country. As Governor Berkeley of Virginia 
was one of the eight to whom Carolina had been given, he 
set up a separate government there, and appointed as the 
first governor William Drummond,who has been mentioned 




70 History of the United States. 

as taking part with Bacon in the struggle for liberty in Vir- 
ginia. 

The " Grand Model," and Freedom, — When the company 
in England got their charter, they planned to setup a model 
-government which would perpetuate some of the forms and 
principles of the most tyrannical countries 
in Europe. They therefore employed John 
Locke, a famous philosopher and a pure, 
good man, who was devoted to the king and 
to royal rule, to draw up a constitution for 
the new province of the Carolinas. You 
would scarcely understand this constitution 
if I should repeat it to you, and as this 
" Grand Model," as it was called, contained 

JOHN LOCKE. Ill i_ 1 J • 

a hundred separate regulations, you may 
be very glad that you are not obliged to puzzle your heads 
over it. But the people of the country were lovers of free- 
dom, and set to work to form a government to suit them- 
selves. Before the " Grand Model " was finished, in 1669, the 
freemen of the Albemarle settlement made a few laws which 
bestowed privileges upon new immigrants and protected the 
civil rights of all. The new constitution was, however, 
brought over, and governor after governor tried to enforce 
its fanciful and impossible provisions upon the people. 
Among these rulers were some unprincipled men who op- 
pressed and robbed the people. Others again tried honestly 
and faithfully to set up the "Grand Model." But the sturdy 
freemen of Carolina would not quietly submit to its unrea- 
sonable requirements. Numbers of the liberty-loving follow- 
ers of Bacon in Virginia took refuge among tbe Carolinians 
from Berkeley's vengeance and fostered their hatred of op- 
pression. And, at last, when a wicked and tyrannical crea- 
ture named Sothel had ill-treated the colony for five years, 
the people rose up against him, deprived him of his office, 
and banished him from the colony. 

South Carolina Established, and Settled, 1670. — The pro- 
prietors hoped that their "Grand Model" would have more 
success if they established a new colony in the southern 
part of their possessions; and they encouraged people from 
different parts of Europe and from other American colonies, 
to emigrate thither. A number of English, under William 



Northern Colonies — The Carolina^. 71 

Sayle, made the first settlement at Port Royal, but after- 
wards removed to the place where the city of Charleston 
now stands. The next year came Sir John Yeamans from 
Cape Fear, bringing with him the colony he had originally 
led from Barbadoes, and two hundred African slaves. From 
the Dutch settlements in New York, from Holland, from 
Ireland, from Scotland, and again and again from England, 
bodies of emigrants came into the new colony, attracted by 
the fertility and pleasant climate of the region, and by the 
prospect of civil and religious freedom. Among them the 
arbitrary regulations of the "Grand Model" found as little 
favor as they had done in North Carolina. There was a 
constant struggle against the governors appointed by the 
proprietors, and the people established a representative 
government, and made laws for their own regulation, pay- 
ing little attention to those of the proprietors. 

Coming of the Huguenots, Their Character. — In an earlier 
chapter you have read of a colony of French Protestants 
under John Ribault, which settled near Port Royal, more 
than a hundred years before this time, and of another 
further south which was destroyed by the Spaniards. 
The persecutions against the Huguenots in France had 
been revived within a few years, and the French king, 
Louis XIV., seemed determined to destroy them. They 
were imprisoned, tortured and executed if they re- 
mained in France, and yet were forbidden to leave that 
country. Strong in their faith, however, and courageous 
to face any danger rather than renounce it, they man- 
aged to escape by hundreds and thousands. Indeed, 
as many as five hundred thousand of them eluded the 
vengeance of their persecutors, and made their way to for- 
eign shores. They were among the best of the French 
population, nobles, gentlemen, worthy citizens, honest 
tradesmen, and skilful artisans ; and they were welcome 
wherever they went. A large number of them came to 
America, to New England, New York, Virginia and North 
Carolina ; but in far greater numbers to South Carolina, 
where the climate was more like their native France. As 
many as sixteen thousand came to South Carolina, and set- 
tled principally along the Cooper and Santee Rivers. At 
first the English settlers, who hated everything French^ 



72 History of the United States. 

looked coldly upon the Huguenots, and tried to exclude 
them from the rights and privileges enjoyed by themselves. 
But the French emigrants were almost all people of good 
birth and breeding, cultivated, refined, courageous. They 
had been trained to noble virtues and character in the 
school of adversity, and before many years became the 
most prosperous and prominent part of the population of 
South Carolina. Indeed, the descendants of the Huguenots 
in all parts of the United States have been the friends and 
advocates of liberty, of education, and of purity of character 
and life. 

Banishment of Colleton. — Like North Carolina, South 
Carolina before many years deposed an oppressive and 
unpopular governor, Colleton, and banished him from the 
province. 

Troubles with Indians. — In these colonies, as in Virginia, 
the settlers suffered grievously from Indian outrage for 
many years. Again and again they had to band together 
to drive off their savage foes, and more than once were 
compelled to seek aid from Virginia to contend successfully 
with the Indians, who greatly outnumbered them. 

AUTHORITIES.— Bancroft's History of the United States. Vols. III., IV. ; Winsor s 
Narrative and Critical History of the United States, Vols. III., IV. ; Hlldreth's His- 
tory of the United States, Vol. I.; Fiske's History of the United States; Campbell's 
and Cooke's Histories of Virginia; Macaulay s History of England; Fiske's Begin- 
nings of New England; Appleton's Encyclopedia; Williamson's History of North 
Carolina, Ramsay's History of South Carolina, 

QUESTIONS.— 1. How did the Restoration affect the New England colo- 
nies ? 2. Which one held out against the king ? 3. What charters did Con- 
necticut and Rhode Island obtain ? 4. Tell of the independence of Massachu- 
setts and her final subjection. 5. Upon whom did the king bestow a lai'ge 
tract ? 6. What were its boimdaries ? 7. What now became of New Nether- 
land? 8. Of the Delaware settlements? 9. Of the Carolinas? 10. Tell of 
the settlements in North Carolina. 11. Who wrote the " Grand Model" and 
what was it ? 12. Where was the first settlement in South Carolina ? 13. Tell 
of its growth. 14. Tell of the Huguenots. 15. Banishment of Colleton, 
16. Indian troubles. 17. Where are all the places mentioned ? 



CHAPTER XII. 

SETTLEMENT OF PENNSYLVANIA, 

Grant of Land to William Penn, 1681. — The southern 
part of the territory given to the Duke of York, now the 
State of Delaware, had been sold for a thousand pounds to 
a band of English Quakers, and had already furnished an 
asylum to a number of them, when William Penn, who was a 
strange mixture of an accomplished courtier and an earnest 
Friend, obtained from Charles II., a grant for the territory 
lying west of the Delaware River, which now forms the 
State of Pennsylvania. This land was not a gift, as the 
Carolinas had been. It was granted to Penn in payment of 
a debt of sixteen thousand pounds which 
his father, a famous English sailor, had lent 
to King Charles when he was in exile and 
poverty. Admiral Penn had been greatly 
provoked when his son joined the despised 
Quakers, and when he could not dissuade 
him from it, tried at least to induce him to 
take off his hat before the Duke of York and 
the king. But William Penn would not give 
up his Quaker profession even in this small 
particular, and again and again suffered punishment and 
imprisonment for his devotion to it. 

Naming of Pennsylvania. — Notwithstanding his adherence 
to the sect everywhere despised, William Penn was held in 
great favor by the king and his brother, and, in spite of 
opposition, Charles discharged the debt to his father by 
granting to him the territory he asked, on condiion that 
he should pay two beaver skins a year to the king. 
Penn modestly called his new possession " Sylvania " — the 
Latin name for the great forests which covered it — but King 
Charles, in compliment to the Quaker owner, gave it the 
name Pennsylvania, which it has retained. Penn sent out 
his first band of settlers in 1681, under William Markham, 
who made a settlement near Philadelphia. For the first 
winter these settlers lived in holes dug in the hillsides, 

[73] 




WILLIAM PENN, 



74 



History of the United States, 



Founding of Philadelphia, 1682. — The next year Penn came 
himself, with another company of Quakers, to organize and 
set going the " Holy Experiment " of " a free colony for all 
mankind." The Duke of York, who still claimed jurisdic- 
tion over the " lower counties," as Delaware was called, ap- 
pointed Penn the governor over them. He was welcomed 
heartily by the Swedes, Dutch, and English who were 
already living in Delaware, and at once proceeded to carry 
out his purpose to establish a free and liberal government, 
under which all men might enjoy full freedom, both civil 
and religious. Penn had instructed his first colony to lay 
out a town with broad streets and wide gardens. This city, 
built along the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers, was laid out 
in exaet squares, and called by Penn " Philadelphia," or 
Brotherly Love, to show how much he valued peace and good 
will among his people. 

Penn's Treaty with the Indians. — Penn believed that by 
dealing fairly and honestly with the Indians, the quarrelling 
and bloodshed which had afflicted the other colonies might 
be avoided. Before coming to Pennsylvania himself, he 
wrote a letter to the Indians assuring them of his peaceful 
intentions, and begging them to be friendly to the settlers. 
Shortly after he came to the colony, 
he invited the Indian chiefs to meet 
him in consultation, and 
agree upon a treaty of peace 
and love. This assembly 
took place under an elm 
tree, standing on what is 
now part of the great city 
of Philadelphia. The spot, 
which the Indians called 
"Shack a max on," is 
marked by a marble monu- 
ment. It is a reminder of 
a remarkable assembly. 
The Indians, without their 
weapons, calmly smoked 
their pipes of peace, while William Penn, accompanied by 
other Quakers in their peculiar dress, made them a speech 
declaring that he regarded and would treat the Indians as 




PENN'S TREATY. 



Settlement of Pennsylvania. 



75 



his brothers, and asking that they would look upon the 
whites in the same friendly way. The Indians were much 
pleased with the Quaker's kindliness, and with the presents 
he offered them. In their turn they gave him the wam- 
pum-belt, a token of peace, and promised to live in peace 
with Penn and his children as long as the sun and moon 
endured. 

Growth of the Colony. — Penn afterwards paid the Indians 
for the land occupied by his settlers, and the treaty of peace 
was faithfully kept. But we must remember that the power 
and success of the English in Virginia and New England 
had made them formidable to the Indians; and also that 
these Indians with whom Penn's treaty w^as made were the 
Lenni Lenapes, who had been conquered and subdued by the 
Iroquois. They had been forced to give up their weapons, 
and had been declared '• no better than women." They 
knew that if they ventured to raise their hands against the 
English, whom the Iroquois regarded as allies, their dreaded 
conquerors would visit them with sore vengeance. Free- 
dom from fear of Indian outrage may have been one cause 
for the rapid growth of Penn's colony. The invitation he 
extended to the good and 
oppressed of every nation 
brought numbers of worthy 
settlers to the fertile banks 
of the Delaware. From Eng- 




land and Wales, from Ire- 
land, Scotland, and Ger- 
many, they came in crowds, 
so that within three years 
Philadelphia had become a 
town of six hundred houses; 
and when Penn had to re- 
turn to England in 1 684, he 
left a prosperous city and a 
colony with ten thousand 

people. The government was a free one; the law-makers 
were chosen by all the freemen. Land was sold at a very 
low price to any who had money to buy it, and equal 
rights and privileges were assured to each law-abiding 
citizen. 



AND 

WCINITV 



76 History of the United States. 

Delaware Made a Separate Colony in 1703. — Delaware 
continued under the same government as Pennsylvania 
until 1703, when it was separated to itself with its own 
assembly and laws. I have now given you the story of the 
settlement of each of the thirteen original States, save 
Georgia, which did not take place till fifty years later. 

Death of Charles II., 1685. — Charles II. became more 
tyrannical as he grew older, and was about to practice 
sevei'e measures towards the colonists when he died of 
apoplexy in 1685. 

AUTHORITIES.— Bancroft's History of the United States, Vols. III., IV.; Winsor's 
Narrative and Critical History of tlie United State;^, Vols. III., IV.; Hildretti's His- 
tory of the United States, Vol. I' Piske's History of the United States; Campbell's and 
Cooke's Histories of Virginia; Maeaulays History of England: Fiske's Beginnings 
of New England; Appleton's Encyclopedia, 

QUESTIONS.— 1. Who had bought the land no'w the State of Delaware? 
2. Who was William Penn? 3. What grant was made to him, or payment of 
a debt rather ? 4. Tell of the naming and settling of Pemisylvania. 5. Found- 
ing of Philadelphia. 6. What does the name mean ? 7. How did Penn treat 
the Indians? 8. Tell of the Treaty. 9. Describe the Indians, and the growth 
of the colony. 10. When did Delaware become independent? 11. When did 
Charfes II. die ? 12. Find on the map all the places in the lesson. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

COLONIES UNDER JAMES IT. 

James II. Revokes the New England Charters, 1685. — 
James II. was a narrow-minded, bigoted man, and a worse 
ruler than his brother. His bearing towards the colonies 
was not quite so tyrannical as to his English subjects, but 
he made determined efforts to deprive them of what liber- 
ties Charles had left them. Sir Edmund Andros had atone 
time been governor of New York. He then had a quarrel 
with Connecticut, and he disliked the whole of New England. 
For this reason, no doubt, King James sent him over to 
Boston to govern not only that colony, but all of New 
England. Rhode Island and Connecticut were ordered to 
give up their precious charters. Rhode Island did not obey 
at once, and Andros went there, dissolved the colonial gov- 
ernment, and broke the seal which affirmed the charter, and 
the brave little colony saw no alternative but to submit. 



Colonies Under James 11. 



77 




CHAETEE OAK. 



Tale of the Charter Oak, 1687. — In October of the same 
year, Governor Andros went to Hartford to seize the charter 
of Connecticut. Gal- 
lant old Robert Treat, 
who had fought so well 
in King Philip's war, 
was governor of Con- 
necticut, and he ear- 
nestly argued with An- 
dros and pleaded the 
right of the colony to 
retain its charter. The 
discussion continued 
after nightfall. The 
charter lay on the table 
in view of all present. 
Suddenly the candles 
were blown out, and when, after some moments of confu- 
sion, they were re-lighted, the charter had disappeared. 
Captain William Wads worth, of Hartford, had carried it off 
in the darkness and hidden it in the hollow trunk of an old 
oak tree near by. Andros at once assumed command of the 
government, and the next day the secretary of the colony 
wrote " Finis " on the book of colonial records, in token 
that he thought liberty at an end in Connecticut. Within 
the next year New York and New Jersey were also placed 
under Andros, who thus governed the whole English terri- 
tory from Maine to the Delaware River. 

Andros's Tyranny. — Under his oppressive rule, Indian 
warfare destroyed many lives on the Maine frontier, while 
in the rest of New England the colonists were tyrannized 
over in every way. Andros dissolved the general court 
and claimed the power to lay all the taxes. Nothing could 
be printed without his approval, and the personal liber- 
ties of the people were greatly restricted. The king had 
ordered that the service of the Church of England 
should be held in one of the principal churches of Boston 
until the king's chapel could be built. This order was per- 
haps more grievous to the people of Boston than any 
other wrong inflicted upon them. Sir Edmund Andros for- 
mally demanded the use of the Old South meeting-house 



78 



History of the United States. 



for the Episcopal service, and was flatly refused. He then 
took possession of it, and the Church of England service 
was held there alternately with the regular services, until 
Andros lost his power. 

James Friendly to Quakers. — James was the personal 
friend of William Penn, and he not only left Penn's colony 
unmolested, but, at the solicitation of the Quaker, released 
from prison not lessthan twelve hundred Friends who had 
languished in captivity, some of them for years. 

James Unfriendly to Maryland. — Special leniency might 
have been looked for from the Catholic James towards the 
Catholic Lord Baltimore and his territory of Maryland. 
But the oppressive laws of trade bore hardly on the colony; 
and the king wished to get the whole American territory 
into his own hands and place it all under one government. 
He had taken steps to obtain possession of Maryland when 
his downfall came. 

Virginia also Oppressed by James. — In Virginia, the same 
struggle continued between the crown and people that had 

gone on for some years. The 
council appointed by the gov- 
ernor was generally obedient 
to his Avishes, while the as- 
sembly elected by the people 
was strenuous in guarding 
their rights. The first assem- 
bly that met after the acces- 
sion of King James protested 
against the governor's exercise 
of the "veto power"; that is, 
the power to set aside a decree 
of the assembly simply by for- 
bidding it. King James was 
much enraged at this. He or- 
dered that the assembly should 
be dissolved, and that Robert 
Beverley, whom they had 
chosen their clerk and who was the leader of the opposition 
to the royal oppression, should be prosecuted and disfran- 
chised, and that from that time the clerk of the assembly 
should be appointed by the governor. 




OLD SOUTH CHURCH. 



Colonies Under James II. 79 

Pate of Robert Beverley. — Beverley had at one time been 
a devoted royalist, but he was too true a patriot to approve 
of the tyrannical oppressions of the throne, and became 
strong in opposing them. For his daring defence of liberty 
he was persecuted, imprisoned, disfranchised, and died the 
victim of royal spite and disfavor. 

Monmouth's Supporters Brought to Virginia as Slaves. — 
When the attempt of the ill-fated Duke of Monmouth to 
gain the English throne was defeated at Sedge moor, James 
wreaked bitter vengeance upon his unfortunate supporters. 
Hundreds of those who were taken prisoners were sent over 
to Virginia, and, by the express order of the king, sold into 
slavery. James enjoined upon Lord Effingham to have a 
law passed that these prisoners should continue in slavery 
for ten years, and should not be permitted to redeem them- 
selves before that time, either by money or any other means. 
Children were also kidnapped in the towns and sent to the 
colonies and sold. In this shameful traffic, the queen and 
great ladies took part and made money. Monmouth's fol- 
lowers had, most of them, been honest, worthy people, who 
thought that by adhering to him they could establish a 
more just and moderate rule in England. Virginia received 
the unhappy soldiers kindly, and passed no laws injurious 
to them. By the course of events they were soon restored 
to freedom and the possession of their civil rights. 

Indian Forts Built in New York. — King James was, you 
remember, the proprietor of New York, under a gift from 
his brother. Either because he felt a special interest in that 
colony, or because he really did think it right to protect it 
from the Indians, he directed the governor of New York 
to build forts to defend his territory, and desired that Vir- 
ginia should bear part of the expense for them. This Vir- 
ginia declined to do, since the Indians could come down 
upon her borders without passing within a hundred miles 
of these forts. 

Uprising of Protestant England. — James was, as I have told 
you, a bigot as to his religion, and intended to place all his 
dominions under the power of the Roman Catholic Church. 
There was nothing which the English nation feared and 
hated so much as they did this. Their antagonism and 
dread of it had within a few years been revived and intensi- 



80 History of the United States. 

fied by the fierce persecution exercised in France against 
the Huguenots, many of whom had escaped into their midst 
and bore witness to the relentless cruelty of Rome and her 
adherents. The whole of England was stirred up. Church- 
men, Presbyterians, Independents, Quakers, by whatever 
name or mode of faith the Protestants called themselves, no 
matter how great the difference and how little the love 
might be between them, equally opposed the Roman Church, 
and were equally resolved not to submit to it. Against it 
they all stood shoulder to shoulder; and William of Orange 
and Mary his wife, he as the representative of Protestantism 
in Europe, and she as an English princess, the next heir to 
the throne, were invited by all classes and by men of all 
shades of opinion to come and take possession of it. Their 
coming was welcomed by the whole people, and James saw 
himself deprived of his kingdom and obliged to fly for his 
life, without a blow's being struck in his defence. 

William and Mary Become Sovereigns of England, 1688. 
Parliament assembled, formally deposed King James, and 
after drawing up a declaration of the rights they claimed 
to exercise, and those to which the king must not pretend, 
bestowed the kingdom upon the Prince and Princess of Or- 
ange. William accepted for himself and his wife, and prom- 
ised that they would be guided by the wishes and advice of 
Parliament. Thus the second revolution in England was 
accomplished. 

Effects in America. — As soon as the news that James had 
been deposed reached Boston, the people revolted against 
Andros, and established their own government as they had 
managed it under the charter. Rhode Island did the same 
thing, and the precious charter of Connecticut was brought 
from its hiding place. The charters of these two colonies 
were so liberal that they remained tlie rule under which 
both States regulated their affairs until within the present 
century. 

Leisler's Usurpation. — There was a similar uprising in 
New York, and Leisler, who headed it, for a while got pos- 
session of the government. But he had not the confidence 
of the English residents, his main supporters being among 
the Dutch, and he was afterwards accused of treason, was 
captured and executed. 



The Colonies in 1688. 81 

AUTHORITIES.— Bancroft's History of the United States, Vols. III., IV.; Winsor's 
Narrative and Critical History of the United States, Vols. III., IV.; Hildreth's History 
of the United States, Vol. I.; Fiske's History of the United States; Campbell's and 
Cooke's Histories of Virginia; Maeaulay's History of England; Fiske's Beginnings 
of New England; Appleton's Encyclopedia. 

QUESTIONS. — 1. — What act of tyramiy did James II. commit against New 
England? 2. Tell of the Charter Oak. 3. Andros'styraimy and the Old South 
meeting-house. 4. What did James do for the Quakers? 5. How did he act 
towards Maryland? 6. Towards Virginia? 7. Tell the fate of Robert Bev- 
erley. 8. Tell of the white slaves sent from England. 9. How did James pro- 
tect New York ? 10. Relate the uprising against James in England. 11. Who 
then came to the throne? 12. In what year? 13. What effects in America 
had the Revolution of 1688? 14. Who was Leisler? 15. Find all the places 
on the map. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

THE COLONIES IN 1688. 

The Twelve English Colonies. — We have now gone over 

the settlement of the twelve English colonies on the Atlantic 

coast during the seventeenth century: 

Virgmia by the English, at Jamestown 1607 

New York by the Dutch, at New York 1614 

Massachusetts by the English, at Plymouth 1620 

New Hampshire by the English, at Portsmouth 1623 

Connecticut by the English, at Windsor 1633 

Maryland by the English, at St. Maiy's 1634 

Rhode Island by settlers from Massachusetts, at Providence. 1636 

Delaware by the Swedes, at Christiana 1638 

Pennsylvania by the Swedes, at Philadelphia 1643 

North Carolina by the English, near Albemarle Sound 1663 

New Jersey by the English, at Elizabeth Town 1664 

South Carolina by the English, at Charleston 1670 

The Dutch and Swedish settlements in New York, Dela- 
ware and Pennsylvania had, as you have read, passed into 
the power of England; and when William and Mary came 
to the throne in 1688, the whole Atlantic coast from New 
Brunswick to Florida belonged to the English. 

You have seen that the people in these colonies were in 
some things very much alike, in others widely different. 

Resemblances Among the Colonists. — They almost all 
spoke the same language, used the English Bible, and,wath the 
exception of those in Maryland, were all Protestants. Indeed, 
by 1688 there were more Protestants than Catholics even in 
Maryland. They also all loved and desired freedom, and 
claimed it as their right to govern themselves according to 
6 



82 History of the United States. 

their own laws and to impose their own taxes. In their 
early experiences, too, the settlers fared much alike. They 
had to contend with severe winters, with threatened starva- 
tion, and to protect themselves against the enmity of the 
cruel, crafty Indians. Virginia and Massachusetts lost half 
of their numbers again and again from want, disease, and 
Indian outrages. But the worst times for the colonies were 
over, and though the people still had many difhculties to 
contend with, there had been steady progress for many years. 

Differences Among" the Colonies. — The differences among 
the colonies are scarcely less evident than their resem- 
blances. They differed in their modes of life and habits, 
in their forms of religion, and in their views of the relations 
they sustained towards each other. 

Character of the Virginians. — Virginia was settled by loy- 
alists, and under the auspices of the Church of England. 
The larger part of her colonists were from the middle and 
aristocratic classes of the mother country. Cavaliers by 
birth and education, they retained their love and reverence 
for the king and the church, and while steadfast in claiming, 
and stout in contending for the personal rights of each free- 
man, they were slow to try new ways and to upset the estab- 
lished forms of government. Conservative is the word 
which best describes them, and though some of you may 
not understand it now, j'^ou will come to learn that the 
wisest men of all ages have been conservative of what was 
good and true in their times. 

Feeling of Virginia toward Her Neighbors. — The Virgin- 
ians' belief in the liberty and rights of every one, gave them 
toleration and respect for the freedom of thought and action 
of their neighbors. They were jealous of the rights of the 
colony to all the land given in its charters, but beyond that 
they never interfered with the neighboring colonies, except 
to extend them some kindness. To Lord Baltimore's Mary- 
land colony, they gave cattle, hogs, poultry, fruit trees, and 
seeds which they themselves had gotten from the mother 
country and had raised with many years' hard labor. To 
Maryland, too, they lent help against the Indians, as they 
did later to North and South Carolina. 

Country Life. — From their first coming to America they 
showed little desire to establish themselves in compact set- 



The Colonies in 1688. 



83 



tlements, and to build up large towns. They preferred to 
settle on their own farms and plantations, surrounded by 
their servants and dependents. This habit of living to 
themselves was fostered by the universal cultivation of to- 
bacco, requiring broad acres and much sunshine. The dis- 
tances between the dwelling houses prevented the early es- 
tablishment of common schools and the regular attend- 
ance upon public worship. But you must not suppose that 
education and religion whereon that account wholly neglected. 
One of the first buildings put up at Jamestown was the 
church. And the brick tower of a later church which was 
burnt in Bacon's Rebellion is still standing. Following 
this example, substantial churches, some of wood, others of 
brick, were built wherever there was a sufficient number of 
settlers or plantations within reach. 

Provision for Churches and Schools. — One hundred acres 
were given as a "glebe" for the support of the minister, whose 
salary was paid in tobacco, 
the colonial currency. To 
these churches parish schools 
were sometimes attached. As 
early as 1619, fifteen hun- 
dred pounds were raised by 
churchmen in England to 
found a college at Governor 
Dale's city of Henrico, five 
hundred and fifty pounds 
more for the education of 
Indian children, and com- 
munion plates and furni- 
ture were given for the col- 
lege church. A year or two 
later, a school called the 
East Indian school, because 
it was endowed by persons 
engaged in the East Indian 
trade, was established if 
Charles City County. The:- 
early attempts at general 
and advanced education °^" '"^^^" ^'^^"'^ ^'^ jxmestown.^ 
were, however, brought violently to naught by the Indian 
massacre in 1622. 




84 History of the United States. 

Education of the Young Cavaliers. — Charles II. and 
James II. through their oppressive governors did every- 
thing to discourage education, and when Sir William 
Berkeley wished to be very agreeable to his royal master he 
wrote word that there was not a free school nor a printing 
press in the colony. This did not check the education of 
the higher classes. Many of them were men of university 
training, who sent their eldest sons back to England for 
school and college teaching, and employed tutors for their 
other children from among the needy refugees or " in- 
dented" colonists, some of whom had been well educated 
at home. If their libraries were small, they had always at 
least the Bible, Shakespeare, and the English Prayer-Book 
constantly in use, as teachers of high morality and pure, 
vigorous English. 

Mode of Life. — The wealthy planters had spacious houses 
of wood and brick, with English gardens and orchards, 
while the offices and " quarters " for the negro and white 
servants near by formed quite a settlement. Their stables 
were ample, and their horses among the best in the world. 
In these plantation homes free-handed hospitality was exer- 
cised towards all comers, and the fertile soil, the plentiful 
game, and the abundant fish and oysters in the rivers en- 
abled even a poor man to spread a bountiful table. The 
kindness and courtesy which springs from good feeling gave 
softness and gentleness to the manners of even the rudest 
among the colonists. 

Sketch of the Massachusetts Settlers. — Massachusetts, on 
the contrary, as we have seen, was settled by men who hated 
alike the English monarchy and the English church. They 
came to America to establish a government to suit them- 
selves, and that government was, as far as it could be made 
so, to resemble the government of Moses over the Israelites. 
None but those who held their peculiar views were consid- 
ered to have any rights, civil or religious, and a share in 
the government was closely restricted to the church mem- 
bers. They also, at once, began the building of towns, and 
each settlement constituted a separate independent power, 
jealous of its own rights, and looking askance at its neigh- 
bors. Those who came among them and differed from them 
could not be endured. They must go, into the wilderness, 



The Colonies in 1688. 



85 



among the savages, it did not matter where, so that Puritan 
eyes and ears were not offended by them. 

The Puritans "a Peculiar People". — Indeed, it seemed an 
especial pleasure to the Puritans to emphasize their differ- 
ence from other men in all possible ways. They changed 
the names of the months, of the seasons, of their churches, 
their children, so that they should not resemble those in 
common English use. Christmas Day they treated with 
special scorn and desecration. 

Family Life and Dress. — The sons of the family might be 
Timothy, and Jonathan, and Josiah, Habbakuk, Make-peace 
and Accepted; the daughters were almost sure to be Abigail, 
Jerusha, Prudence, Temperance, Faith, and other Christian 
virtues. And as the boys and girls must answer to harsh 
unmusical names, so they must wear solemn faces, dress in 
sad-colored clothes, with long narrow sleeves, and closely-cut, 
uncurled hair. These things were thought important 
enough to be regulated by law. 

First College in America, 1636. — Living close together in 

towns made it easy to _____________________ 

establish c o m m o n f ' " """" ^~~\ 

schools where all the 
children could be 
taught together, and 
their mothers freed 
from the care of them 
during a good part of 
the day. Indeed, edu- 
cation was highly 
prized among the peo- 
ple of New England, 
and the meeting- 
house and school- 
house stood close to- 
gether in every village. The first college in America was that 
which still bears the name of its founder, John Harvard, at 
Cambridge, now part of Boston, established in 1636. 

New England Colonies and their Neighbors. — THe model- 
ling of their government on the Jewisli theocracy was one 
reason of the sudden and violent measures practiced by 
New England upon the Indians. Moses and Joshua, under 




HARVARD COLLEGE, 1895. 



86 History of the United States. 

God's command, destroyed the idolatrous nations of Canaan, 
and God's elect in America could do no better than exter- 
minate the savages around them in like manner. Then, too, 
as they thought none but themselves were right, or had 
rights, they felt themselves entitled to interfere in their 
neighbors affairs, and to give advice unasked for. Thus, 
the colony of Rhode Island was excluded from the New 
England Confederacy, as its founders had been driven from 
Massachusetts. Trade with Virginia was forbidden when 
she would not adopt the views of Parliament, and the Dutch 
in New York were overpowered by an English commander, 
who was backed up by the governor of Connecticut and 
agents from Massachusetts. The cold climate and barren 
soil of New England were not conducive to agriculture, and 
the people early turned their attention to ship-building, 
fishing, and manufactures, in which they have ever since 
excelled. 

Social Distinctions. — There was quite as much difference 
in the classes of society among the Puritans in New 
England, as the Cavaliers in Virginia. The governors and 
ministers were reverenced almost with awe. But life 
everywhere there was plainer and on a ruder plan, for the 
elegances and luxuries of the higher classes in England 
were frowned upon as belonging to the vices of the English 
court. 

Character of the Settlers in other Colonies. — In New York, 
the habits of the people partook of the simplicity and stiff- 
ness of the Dutch settlers. In New Jersey and Delaware, 
Quaker plainness of life, dress, and speech were the rule, and 
afterwards in Pennsylvania. Education was fostered by the 
Quakers, and the settlers in these colonies both built towns 
like the New Englanders and spread themselves over the 
fertile, level country like the Virginians. Maryland was 
similar to Virginia in the general character of her people, 
and their habits of life. In the Carolinas, climate, soil, the 
productions of the country and the inclinations of the set- 
tlers, caused agriculture and plantation life to prevail, as has 
been the case ever since throughout the Southern States. 

Slavery in all the Colonies: Why More Slaves at the 
South. — There was one other important respect in which all 
twelve of these colonies were alike. They were all slave- 



The Colonies in 1688. 



87 



holding communities. Negroes had been sold by the Dutch 
to Virginia planters in 1619, and at the period of which we are 
now speaking and for nearly a hundred years later, African 
slavery existed in all the colonies. This was the case when 
the Declaration of Independence was adopted. We have 
seen the prisoners after the Pequot massacre and King 
Philip's war, sold as slaves by the Massachusetts Puritans, 
who had at that time no conscientious scruples about selling 
and buying either Indians or negroes. But the African 
comes from a warm climate, and flourishes only beneath a 
sultry sky. His aptitude is far greater for out-door work in 
the field than for labor in manufactories. In the planting 




PRIMITIVE SCHOOL. 



of tobacco, rice, cotton, and sugar, which gradually became 
the prime products of the southern colonies and States, he 
found the occupation suited to his health and capacities, 
while he dwindled and was comparatively useless when 
exposed to the long, cold northern winters. To hold him in 



88 History of the United States. 

slavery became more and more unprofitable to the men of 
the northern regions, and he was sold to their southern 
neighbors before any question was raised as to the moral 
right of either to buy and sell him. The opinion of the 
world has changed on these points, but we must be careful 
to see the facts as they appeared, to our ancestors. 

Some Differences in Life Then and Now. — The condition of 
the country was such as you can scarcely picture to your- 
selves. There were no stoves nor grates, no furnaces to 
warm the houses ; great wood fires in huge open chimneys 
were the only ways of giving heat in winter. There were 
few public roads, no public conveyances. All journeys by 
land were made on foot or on horseback ; along the rivers 
and streams the people went from place to place in their 
boats. There were no newspapers and no post-offices. 
News was carried by messengers or by runners, and letters 
only by private hands. The thread and yarn for clothing 
were spun and woven by the women of the family, or by the 
slaves on the plantations, and the garments made by the 
same hands. Only the rich and prominent could afford, 
even for Sundays and holidays, the handsome and costly 
garments brought from England at a high price. But the 
people were healthy, independent, and virtuous, and did not 
miss all these things which seem so necessary to us, two 
hundred years later. 

AUTHORITIES.— Bancroft's History of the United States. Vols. III.. IV. ; Winsor's 
Narrative and Critical History of tlie United States, Vols. III., IV.; Hildretli's Hia- 



iiiiig,,, ui i,^« .i^i.fsicv.i^^, .Lxt,^..vvv... o ^..v.j^.„^^^ — , ...w.^^o^i. .= History 
Carolina; Ramsay's History of South Carolina. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. How many colonies had been settled before 1700? 
2. What were their names ? 3. What nation settled each ? 4. In what year 
was the first? the latest? 5. When was your State, or the State of your an- 
cestors, settled? 6. What nation controlled the Atlantic coast? 7. Were 
all the colonies alike ? 8. Mention some resemblances. 9. In what did they 
differ? 10. What class settled Virginia? 11. Their character? 12. Virginia 
country life. 13. What provision was made for churches and schools? 
14. Where were the young men educated? 15. Mode of life. IG. Describe 
the ]\Iassachusetts settlers. 17. Their peculiarities. 18. Family life and 
dress. 19. What college was first established? 20. New England and her 
neighbors. 21. Social distinctions. 22. Settlers in other colonies. 23. Did 
slavei-y exist in all ? 24. Why were there more slaves in the South ? 35, Tell 
some of the differences between life then and now. 



CHAPTER XV. 

THE FRENCH IN THE NORTH AND WEST. 

The French Against the Iroquois. — When Champlain 
settled at Quebec in 1608, he found the Huron and Algon- 
quin Indians in possession of the country north of Lake 
Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. They were deadly 
enemies to the Iroquois, who held the region south of that 
river. To make friends with his immediate neighbors, 
Champlain joined them in an expedition against the Iro- 
quois. In this march he discovered and explored the lake 
which bears his name. He and his party were the first 
white ■ men who had ever entered the country. Their fire- 
arms won a victory for their Indian allies. The Iroquois 
never forgave the French for coming against them, and 
avenged themselves for ninety years, with fire and bloodshed. 

French Missionaries. — Their hostility prevented Cham- 
plain from pushing southward, and, as he was most desirous 
to extend the dominion of France in the New World, he 
pressed westward. Paddling up the Ottawa River, he made 
his way across into Lake Huron as early as 1615, five years 
before the Pilgrims came to Plymouth. To make friends 
with the Indians was the surest way to build up the power 
of France. The better to accomplish this, Champlain called 
to his aid the missionary zeal of the Roman Catholic Church. 

Foremost among these missionaries were the Franciscan 
brothers and the Jesuit priests, who exhibited in their labors 
among the Canadian Indians the courage and devotion of 
the early mart3'rs. From eastern Maine to the west of Lake 
Huron these faithful preachers carried the cross, setting up 
their rude chapels and chanting their litanies in the midst 
of the savage tribes. Their earnest teachings and pious 
lives gave them great success, especially among the Hurons; 
and, as the stor}' of their efforts and their doings spread, 
messengers from more distant tribes came to see and hear 
the wonderful white teachers. 

French Settlements on the Great Lakes. — Fur traders 
brought eastward an account of Lake Superior, the vast 

[89] 



90 History of the United States. 

inland sea still farther to the west, and the missionaries 
pressed on thither. Father Claude Allouez, in his journey, 
gave the name Sault St. Marie to the falls between Lakes 
Superior and Huron, where Dablon and Marquette estab- 
lished a mission station, the first European settlement 
in Michigan. For two years Allouez remained alone among 
the Indians, preaching to the Chippewas and to emissaries 
from the Pottawotamies, the Sacs and Foxes, the Illinois, 
and even to warriors from the great Sioux Nation, who dwelt 
on the banks of the great river, the " Meche Sepe.'* 

Plan to Explore the Mississippi. — De Soto was known to 
have crossed this river in 1541, but since that time it had 
been unknown to the white men. The glowing accounts 
given by the priests of the vast country and powerful tribes 
in the west made the French authorities eager to take pos- 
session of it. Marquette's project for discovering the Mis- 
sissippi River was, therefore, encouraged by Talon, the gov- 
ernor of New France, who sent Joliet, an experienced 
trader, to take part in it. 

Discovery of the Upper Mississippi in 1673. — In the sum- 
mer of 1673 Marquette and Joliet, with five Frenchmen and 
two Indian guides, carried their canoes across from the Fox 
River, flowing north, into the Wisconsin, flowing south. No 
Frenchman, no Christian, had ever passed beyond this 
point. The guides refused to go farther. But France and 
Christianity were bolder, and the seven Frenchmen passed on. 

First Trip Down the Mississippi. — For seven days they 
floated down the Wisconsin and, at length, entered the 
Great River "with a joy that could not be expressed." 
Down past the Des Moines, the Missouri and Ohio they 
went, making friendly demonstrations and preaching to 
such Indians as they saw, and claiming the whole country 
for France. The Indians of the southern tribes had guns 
and axes of steel, which showed that they must have had 
some intercourse with white men. After passing below the 
mouth of the Arkansas River, the explorers became con- 
vinced that the great river ran always south, and learning 
that they were still very far from its outlet, they turned 
their faces once more towards the north. Slowly they made 
their way against the current, and passed up the Illinois 
River, at the head of which they separated. Joliet carried 



French in the North and West. 91 

to Quebec the news of their success. Marquette resumed 
his labors among the Indians on the shores of Lake Michi- 
gan. Here he died, two years later, and was buried near 
the stream which bears his name. 

La Salle. — Joliet's account of the great country through 
which he had travelled, and of his journey down the Mis- 
sissippi, was received with joy by the residents of New 
France. It aroused the ambition and kindled the enthusi- 
asm of the Chevalier La Salle, a young Frenchman who 
held Fort Frontenac, at the eastern end of Lake Ontario. 

La Salle's Plan. — La Salle went to France and succeeded 
in interesting King Louis and his ministers in favor of the 
plan he had formed to traverse the whole length of the 
Mississippi ; to make friends of the Indians along its banks; 
and to plant French colonies among them, thus ensuring 
the whole vast region to France. He obtained a commis- 
sion from the king to discover the whole length of the 
Mississippi ; and returned to America accompanied by the 
Chevalier de Tonti and a colony of thirty Frenchmen. 

La Salle's First Trials. — In 1679, La Salle built and 
launched on the Niagara River the first vessel ever seen in 
those waters — the Griffin, a little craft of forty-five tons 
burden. Passing through Lakes Erie, Huron and Michi- 
gan, La Salle landed on the shore of Green Bay, loaded the 
vessel with skins and furs, and sent her back to Lake Erie 
for supplies. The Griffin was lost on this voyage, and, after 
waiting in vain for her return, the explorers moved south- 
ward and built a fort in Illinois, to which, from their many 
disappointments, they gave the name of " Creve Coeur," or 
Broken Heart. From this point Hennepin was sent to 
explore the upper Mississippi. La Salle with four French- 
men and an Indian guide returned through the untried wil- 
derness, a thousand miles, to Montreal, leaving Fort Creve 
Coeur under command of De Tonti. Part of the garrison 
thus left mutinied and destroyed the fort. The rest, with 
De Tonti, sought refuge first among the Illinois Indians, 
and then returned to Green Bay. 

Ascent of the Mississippi. — Father Hennepin's expedi- 
tion along the upper Mississippi was very successful. 
His party ascended eight hundred miles from the mouth of 
the Illinois to the Falls of St. Anthony, so named in 



92 



History of the United States. 



honor of Hennepin's patron saint. After exploring a while 
his party also retreated to Green Bay. 

La Salle's Descent to the Gulf, 1682. — La Salle met with 
many delays and disappointments, but he was not to be dis- 
couraged. In February, 1682, he again passed down the 
Illinois River and on into the Mississippi, down which he 
floated to its mouth. The ^^^v^j^^'^'m- o, * 

river he called St. '^^^^-^'^^ 

Louis, a s Henne- ■ '"^ 

pin had done, _— r^sTrr-^*?-— =^" "s^^?^ 
and the vast .**^^C^^)^^^^pi^fe^l-'^ 
region 
throuo;h 




DEATH OF LA SALLE. 



which it flowed, Louisiana, in honor of the French king. 
On the 9th of April, 1682, he planted a cross with the 
arms of France, near the mouth of the river, and claimed all 
the territory drained by it and its tributaries for King Louis. 
Death of La Salle, 1686. — To establish this claim it was 
important to take military possession of it. La Salle, there- 



French in the North and West. 



93 



fore, went to France for men and arms. An expedition was 
fitted out, and sailed for the mouth of tlie Mississippi. The 
pilots did not know the coast and carried the ships to Mata- 
gorda Bay, four hundred miles too far west, and thus Texas 
became a part of Louisiana. The colonists who were landed 
here endured many hardships for two years. Then La 
Salle determined to make his way overland to Canada, and 
bring them succor. The party with whom he set out muti- 
nied and murdered their patient, intrepid, persevering 
leader. A pitiful fate for a man who had won for his coun- 
try so magnificent a territory. 

D'Iberville's Fort at Biloxi, 1699. — Louisiana was settled 
when D'Iberville built a fort at Biloxi and planted the first 
white colony on the coast of 
Mississippi. But France 
maintained her title to the 
whole great valley, along 
which there was intercourse 
kept up by the 
traders. De -*^*?- ~ 

Tonti came 




D'IBERVILLE'S FORT AT BILOXI. 

down the river once seeking for La Salle, and again to visit 
the French, who had made the settlement the great explorer 
had so longed to establish. 

French Names in the Mississippi Valley. — The routes and 
explorations of the French pioneers may be traced on the 
maps by the names they gave to different places and rivers. 
The St. Marys, St. Josephs, St. Francises, St. Louis, and 
other saints' names show especially where the missionaries 
went. Eau Claire, Prairie du Chien, Lac qui Parle, Terre 
Haute, and like French titles show how the discoverers 
observed the natural characteristics of the country. Des 



94 



History of the United States. 



Jfbmes River is where pious monks preached to the Indians; 
and you may find other equally interesting names which 
tell the same story. 

AUTHORITIES.— Bancroft's mstory of the United States, Vols. I., II.; Winsor's 
Narrative and Critical History of the United States, Vols. IV., V. ; Monette's Louisi- 
ana and the Mississippi \ alley ; Hildretli's History of the United States, Vols I., II. 

QUESTIONS. — 1. What made the Iroquois enemies to the French in 
Canada ? 3. Who was leader of the French in 1608 ? 3. Who came over to help 
make friends of the Indians ? 4. Tell about their life and work. 5. What set- 
tlements were made on the Great Lakes ? 6. What was the Indian name of the 
Mississippi River? 7. Who planned to explore it? 8. Who discovered the 
upper part? 9. Tell of the first ti'ip down the river, and how far was it? 
10. Who was La Salle ? 11. His plan. 12. His first trials. 13. Naming of St. 
Anthony's Falls. 14. La Salle's trip to the mouth. 15. When? 16. What 
claim did he make ? 17. Death of La Salle. 18. First settlement of Louis- 
iana. 19. Give some of the French names in the Mississippi Valley, and their 
meanings, if you can find them. 30. Be sure to hunt up all the places on the 
map. 




SUMMARY FOR REVIEWS AND ESSAYS. 



DISCOVERY AND SETTLEMENT- 985-1688. 
Chapters 1-15. 



Discoveries in the New World : 
Legends of discovery, 9. 

Eric and Leif in Greenland and Vinland, 985 A. D., 9. 
Voyage of Columbus and discovery of America, 1492, 10. 
Discovery of South America, 11. 
English expedition of discovery, 12. 

Discovery of North America by John and Sebastian Cabot, 1497, 12. 
French expedition under Cartier, 12. 
Discovery of Brazil, 13. 

Discovery of the Pacific by Balboa, 1513, 13. 
Discovery of Florida, 1513, 13. 
Discovery of the Mississippi by De Soto, 1541, 14. 
Sir Walter Raleigh's first expedition ; naming of Virginia, 23. 
New England in 1607-14, 32. 
Discovery of the Hudson, 1609, 38. 
Plan to explore the Mississippi. 90. 
Discovery of the upper Mississippi, 1673, 90. 
First trip down the Mississippi, 90. 
La Salle's descent to the Gulf, 1682, 92. 

Columbus : 

Advance of learning, 9. 
Columbus and his plan, 10. 
Voyage of Columbus, 10. 
Return of Columbus to Spain, 11. 
The Spanish search for gold, 11. 
Ill-treatment of Columbus, 11. 
Death of Columbus, 1506, 11. 

Amerigo Vespucci : 

Naming of the New World, 11. 
The new world named America, 12. 

Right of Discovery : 

"Line of demarcation," 13. 
First voyage round the world, 14. 
Sir Francis Drake, 22. 
" Northwest Passage," 22. 
Second voj'age round the world, 22. 
Gosnold's voyage to New England, 23. 
La Salle, 91. 
La Salle's plan, 91. 
La Salle's first trials, 91. 
Ascent of the Mississippi, 91. 
Death of La Salle, 1686, 92. 
French names in the Mississippi Valley, 93. 

[95] 



96 History of the United States. 

Indians in America : 
" Indians," 11. 

Appearance of the Indians, 15. 
Tlie savage Indians, 15. 
The barbarous Indians, 16. 
Arts and habits of the barbarous Indians, 16. 
The half-civilized Indians, 17. 
The Aztecs and Peruvians, 17. 
The Esquimaux, 18. 
Origin of the Indians 18. 
Indian mounds, 18. 

Some bad traits of Indian character, 19. 
Some good traits, 19. 
The Indian religion, 19. 
" The pipe of peace," 20. 
Three different races, 20. 
Visit to Powhatan, 25. 
Pocahontas, 20. 

Marriage and death of Pocahontas, 30. 

Indian dealings with the settlers (as found in the various stories of settle- 
ment). 

First settlement in America : 

Eric and Leif in Greenland and Vinland, 985 A. D., 9. 
Settlement in Vinland, 9. 
Western land forgotten, 9. 

Spanish settlement : 

Conquest of Mexico and Peru, 13. 
Spanish settlement in Florida, 1565, 21. 
French attempted settlement, 21. 

French settlement : 

French attempted settlement, 1562, 21. 

French settlement in Canada, 21. 

Coming of the Huguenots; their character, 71. 

The French against the Iroquois, 89. 

French missionaries, 89. 

French settlements on the Great Lakes, 89. 

D'Iberville's fort at Biloxi, 1699, 93. 

English settlement in Virginia: 
English attempts. 21. 
Queen Elizabeth's colonies, 23. 

Sir Walter Raleigh's first expedition ; naming of Virginia, 23. 
Second and third expeditions ; birth of Virginia Dare, 23. 
Lost colony of Roanoke, 23. 

Patents to Virginia and Plymouth companies, 24. 
The Virginia Colony, 24. 
Captain John Smith, 25. 
Settlement at Jamestown, 1607, 25. 
The first church, 25. 

Visit to Powhatan at the falls of the James, £5. 
Trials of the colonists and Captain Smith's good help, 26. 
Pocahontas and the colony, 26. 
New colonists ; fire ; gold fever, 27. 
Smith's map of the country; first women settlers, 27. 
New charter and new settlers ; Smith's departure ; " starving time," 27. 



Summary for Reviews and Essays. 97 

English settlement in Virginia — Continued: 
Coming of Lord Delaware, 1610, 28. 
Division of the laud ; raising tobacco, 28. 
First legislative assembly ; introduction of slavery, 29. 
Slavery throughout the world in 1619, 29. 
Ship-load of girls, 1620, 30. 
Cargo of criminals, 30. 
MaiTiage and death of Pocahontas, 30. 
Indian massacre, 1622, 30. 
English perseverance and self-government, 31. 

English settlement in Massachusetts : 

Patents to Virginia and Plymouth companies, 24. 

Landing of the Pilgrims, 1620, 32. 

Misfortunes of the settlers, 33. 

Later colonies in New England, 33. 

The Puritans, 33. 

Puritan idea of religious liberty, 34. 

Puritan laws of Governor Endicott, 34. 

Law as to voting, 1631 , 34. 

Roger Williams exiled, 35. 

Stoiy of Anne Hutchinson, 36. 

Growth of IMassachusetts, 36. 

Dutch settlements: 

Settlement of Connecticut, 36. 

Settlement of New Nether land, 38. 

Patroons, 38. 

Increase of the Dutch colony, 39. 

Slave ships, 39. 

Strife with Indians and peace at Battery Park, 39. 

Swedes in Delaware, 40. 

Delaware, or New Sweden, taken by the Dutch, 1655, 40. 

Other English settlements in New England : 
Settlement of Rhode Island, 1636, 35. 
Settlement of Connecticut under John Winthrop, 36. 
Pequot War, 37. 
Settlement of New Hampshire, 1623, and of Maine, 1630, 37. 

English settlement in Maryland : 

Claybome's settlement on Kent Island, 1627, 41. 

Lord Baltimore, 42. 

Naming of Maryland, 42. 

" Pilgrims of St. Maiy's," 1634, 42. 

Religious freedom, 42. 

Strife between the settlements, 44. 

Growth of Maiyland, 44. 

English settlements in the Carolrnas ■. 

The Carolinas given away by the king, 1663, 69. 

Settlements in North Carolina, 69. 

The " Grand Model" and freedom, 70. 

South Carolina established and settled, 1670, 70. 

Coming of the Huguenots ; their character, 71. 

Banishment of Colleton, 72. 

Troubles with Indians, 72. 

7 



98 History of the United States. 

The Quakers : 

Rise of the Quakers, 54. 

Persecution of the Quakers, 54. 

Quakers banished from the United Colonies, 55. 

Further persecution, 55. 

Grant of land to William Penn, 1681, 73. 

Naming of Pennsylvania, 73. 

Founding of Philadelphia, 1682, 74. 

Penn's treaty with the Indians, 74. 

Growth of the colony, 75. 

James friendly to the Quakers, 78. 

English possession of the Dutch colonies : 

New Netherland becomes New York in 1674, 68. 
Delaware settlements become New Jersey, 69. 

English Settlement in Pennsylvania: 

Grant of land to William Penn, 1681, 73. 

Naming of Pennsylvania, 73. 

Founding of Philadelphia, 1682, 74. 

Penn's treaty with the Indians, 74. 

Growth of the colony, 75. 

Delaware made a separate colony in 1703, 76. 

Death of Charles II. , 1683, 76. 

(For the settlement of Georgia, the thirteenth original colony, see Ch. XVIll. 

Advance of the Virginia colony : 

Downfall of Charles I., 1649, 44. 

Sir William Berkeley made governor of Virginia, 45. 

Laws as to the church, 45. 

Opecancanough's second attack on the whites, 45. 

Prosperity of Virginia, 46. 

Loyalty of the colony, 46. 

Virginia yields to Parliament, 47. 

Religion in the colony, 47.,,- 

Parliament triumphs in Maryland, 48. 

The Restoration in England, 1660, 57. 

The Restoration in Virginia, 57. 

Freedom of the colonies restricted, 57. 

Resistance, 58. 

Giving away the lands of the colonists, 58. 

Petition to the king, 58. 

Efforts to secure a new charter, 59. 

Advance of the New England colonies : 
Puritans cease coming to America, 49. 
Self-government in New England, 49. 
United Colonies of New England, 1643, 50. 
Strife with the Indians, 50. 
Killing of Miantonomo, 51. 
John Eliot, 51. 

Outbreak of King Philip's war, 1675, 52. 
Attack on Swanzey and other places, 52. 
End of the war, 52. 
Effort to obtain equal rights, 53. 
New England sympathizes with Cromwell, 1648, 53. 
New England after the Restoration ; charter of Connecticut, 67. 



Summary for Reviews and Essays. 99 



Advance of the New England colonies — Continued: 
Charter of Rhode Island, G7. 
Independence of Massachusetts ; her subjection, 67. 

Bacon's Rebellion : 

Trouble with the Indians, 59. 

Expedition against them, 59. 

Nathaniel Bacon against the Indians, 60. 

Oovenior Berkeley's injustice to Bacon, 60. 

Seeming adjustment of the difficulty, 61. 

Bacon's boldness, 1676, 62. 

Bacon obtains the commission, 63. 

Berkeley declares Bacon a rebel, 63. 

Bacon's return to the coast, 63. 

Bacon's rebellion against tyranny, 63. 

First declaration of rights, 1676, 64. 

Defeat of the Indians at Bloody Rmi, 64. 

Burning of Jamestown, 1676, 64. 

Death of Bacon, 65. 

Berkeley's vengeance, 65. 

Planters resist oppressive laws, 1677, 65. 

Treaty with the Five Nations, 1684, 66. 

Maryland after the Restoration, 66. 

Colonies under James II : 

James II. revokes the New England charters, 1685, 76. 

Tale of the Charter Oak, 77. 

Andres's tyranny, 77. 

James friendly to the Quakers, 78. 

James unfriendly to Maiyland ,78. 

Virginia also oppressed by James, 78. 

Fate of Robert Beverley, 79. 

Monmouth's supporters brought to Virginia as slaves, 79. 

Indian forts built in New York, 79. 

Uprising of Protestant England, 79. 

William and Mary become sovereigns of England, 1688, 80. 

Effects in America, 80. 

Leisler's usm'pation, 80. 

The Colonies in 1688 : 

The twelve English colonies, 81. 

Resemblances among the colonists, 81. 

Differences among the colonies, 82. 

Character of the Virginians, 82. 

Virginia and her neighbors, 82. 

Countiy life, 82. 

Provision for churches and schools, 83. 

Education of the young cavaliers, 84. 

Mode of life, 84. 

Sketch of the Massachusetts settlers, 84. 

The Puritans "a peculiar people, 85." 

Family life and dress, 85. 

First college in America, 1686, 85. 

New England colonies and their neighbors, 85. 

Social distinctions, 86. 

Character of the settlers in other colonies, 86. 

Slavery in all the colonies; why more slaves in the South, 86. 

Some differences in life then and now, 88. 



FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS, 1689-1763. 



CHAPTER XVI. 

KING WILLIAM'S WAR AND QUEEN ANNE'S WAE. 

Beginning of the War of 1689. — When William and 
Mary came to the English throne, there were in the Ameri- 
can colonies about two hundred thousand people who held 
the narrow territory east of the mountains along the At- 
lantic coast. The white population of New France at 
the same time was only about twelve thousand, but she 
claimed the whole region west of the mountains from the 
Gulf of St. Lawrence to the Gulf of Mexico. All the Indian 
tribes of that region were friendly to France except the 
Iroquois, who inhabited the country just south of the 
St. Lawrence River and Lakes Ontario and Erie. They 
w^ere steady allies of the English. Louis XIV. of France 
and William of England had been enemies a long 
time. Louis wished to put James II. back on the English 
throne, and a fierce war broke out which soon extended to 
America. 

French and Indian Attacks, 1689. — Count Frontenac,, the 
warlike governor of New France, by the help of his Indian 
allies, attempted to seize upon New York. Their plan was 
foiled by an attack made by the Iroquois on Montreal, where 
much savage cruelty was perpetrated. Old Frontenac had 
now to defend Canada, but he sent raiding parties into New 
York and the New England colonies, which rivalled the Iro- 
quois in their barbarous deeds. Schenectady was surprised 
in the night, sixty of the inhabitants were massacred and 
the rest escaped in their night clothes to Albany, after a 
fearful tramp through the snow. Another party inflicted 
similar destruction at Salmon Falls in New Hampshire. 
For several years this dreadful work of midnight surprises, 
conflagrations and massacres went on. If the people of the 
villages had warning of the approach of their enemies, they 
took refuge in their block houses. But often the destruction 

[100] 



King William^ s and Queen Anne*s Wars. 



101 



fell upon them suddenly. In 1692, the town of York in 
Maine had a third of its inhabitants slaughtered. Two years 
later, more than a hundred people, mostly women and child- 
ren, were massacred at Durham in New Hampshire. Some 
of them were even burned alive. At Groton in Massachu- 
setts, forty people were slain in a sudden attack. The Cana- 
dian governor received with pleasure any English scalps 
which were brought to him, and the priests urged their igno- 
rant Indian converts to these deeds of bloodshed and rapine. 

Escape of Mrs. Dustin. — Marauding bands ventured 
within thirty-four miles of Boston. One of these carried 
off Mrs. Dustin, her baby, 
her nurse, and a boy of thir- 
teen. The poor baby was 
dashed against a tree and 
killed. After some weeks 
of wretched captivity, Mrs. 
Dustin formed a bold plan i^^ 
of escape. The boy under- | 
stood the Algonquin lan- 
guage and learned that they 
were to be tortured when 
they reached their journey's 
end. Waiting till the nine 
warriors and three squaws 
of the party were asleep 
one night, the prisoners 
arose, possessed themselves 
of the tomahawks, and with rapid blows killed and scalped 
all the Indians, except one boy and one woman, who escaped. 
They then made their way to the settlements with the scalps 
they had taken. A marble monument at Boscawen, New 
Hampshire, tells wliere tliis bold escape was made. 

Resistance of New England. — The New England colonists 
did not submit quietly to these outrages. Expeditions were 
sent against both Quebec and IMontreal, but neither of them 
had any success. Port Royal in Acadia, however, sur- 
rendered to a fleet which appeared before it. 

Peace of Ryswick, 1697. — Frontenac now attacked the 
Iroquois and greatly weakened their power by the havoc he 
wrought amongst them. In 1697, the war in Europe ended 




INDIANS AND THEIR PRISONERS. 



102 History of the United States. 

by the treaty of Ryswick, and peace for a while followed 
in America. But this war was but one outbreak of a strife 
which continued for more than fifty years longer between 
France and England, and their colonies in America. 

Queen Anne's War, 1702. — When Queen Anne succeeded 
William and Mary, the war was renewed with France be- 
cause King Louis wished to make her young half-brother, 
son of James II., king of England in her place. The colo- 
nists took part in this war also. In the south, the Spaniards 
in Florida, who were allies of France, brought a fleet from 
Cuba to attack Charleston, but the brave South Carolinians 
drove their enemies off". There was a good deal of fighting 
also between the colonists and the Indians, both in North and 
South Carolina. The Appalachee Indians in South Caro- 
lina were completely humbled and sued for peace, so that 
the colony was freed from dread of Indian outrages. 

Indian War in North Carolina. — In North Carolina the 
Tuscarora and Coree Indians became restless at the increase 
in numbers of the white settlers, and made an effort to rid 
themselves of them by a sudden and wholesale massacre. 
At first fearful destruction and many murders were com- 
mitted, but at last by the help of troops from South Caro- 
lina, the Indians were so thoroughly defeated that they gave 
up the contest, abandoned Carolina, and marched to the north, 
where they joined the confederacy of the Iroquois in New 
York, which, from that time, was known as the Six Na- 
tions. 

Indian Atrocities. — The war in the north was filled with 
the same Indian atrocities that had taken place formerly, 
only, perhaps, rather worse. Burnings, murders, scalpings, 
and tortures were dealt out all along the border country. 
At last the English offered a bounty of ten pounds or more 
for every Indian scalp. 

Peace of Utrecht, 1713. — A second expedition against 
Quebec was unsuccessful; but Nova Scotia was conquered 
by a combined force from England and the colonies, and 
when peace was made in Europe in 1713, that province 
remained in the English possession, as did the Hudson Bay 
territory and the island of Newfoundland. 

French Strength in the West. — Through all this fighting, 
France was strengthening her power in the west. A series 



King William's and Queen Anne's Wars. 103 

of French forts connected the Great Lakes with the Missis- 
sippi Valley. Kaskaskia, Cahokia, Vincennes, and Detroit 
were among them. To prevent this, William Penn and 
Governor Spotswood of Virginia urged the English govern- 
ment to establish military posts west of the Alleghany 
Mountains. The legislature of New York petitioned Queen 
Anne on the subject, and Governor Schuyler took five Iro- 
quois chiefs to London to assure the queen that their people 
and allies would help the English to drive out the French. 

Condition of the Central Colonies. — The central colonies 
took no part in this war, and grew and prospered through- 
out the whole period, although their trade was interfered 
with; and there was always strife for power between the 
assemblies which were elected by the people, and the gov- 
ernors who were appointed by the crown. 

Queen Anne as a Slave-Carrier. — The Peace of Utrecht, 
which ended Queen Anne's war, contained one shameful 
provision. "Her Brittanic Majesty did offer to undertake, 
by persons whom she shall appoint, to bring into the West 
Indies of America, belonging to his Catholic Majesty, in the 
space of thirty years, one hundred and forty thousand 
negroes." By this disgraceful agreement the English queen 
became the slave-carrier for Spain. 

AUTHORITIES.— Bancroft's History of the United States, Vol. II., III.; Hildreth's 
History of the United States, Vol. II. ; Winsor's Narrative and Critical History of the 
United States, Vol. III.,V. ; Campbell's History of Virginia; Fiske's Beginnings of 
New England; Cooke's History of Virginia; Ramsay's History of South Carolina. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. How many settlers were in America in 1688? 2. What 
territoiy did the French claim ? 3. What was the cause of King William's 
war? 4. Tell of the attacks on New York; on New England. 5. Relate the 
story of Mrs. Dustin. 6. What resistance was made by New England? 
7. When was the Peace of Ilyswick ? 8. How long did Queen Anne's war 
last? 9. Tell of the Spanish attack on South Carolina. 10. The defeat 
of the Tuscarora tribe in North Carolina. 11. Indian atrocities. 12. Fall of 
Nova Scotia, and Peace of Utrecht in 1713. 13. How did the French grow 
stronger in the west? 14. Tell of the central colonies. 15. What trade did 
the English undeitake? 16. Find all the places as you come to them. 



CHAPTER XVII. 

THE COLONIES UNDER OEORQE I. 

Growth of Population, 1688-1714. — When Queen Anne 
was succeeded by the German, George I., the American colo- 
nies were in far better condition than when William 
and Mary came to the English throne. Notwithstanding 
the wars north and south of which you have read, the popu- 
lation had risen from 232,000 in 1688 to 465,000 in 1715— had 
doubled itself in twenty-six years. There had been consid- 
erable immigration from Europe. Germans had come from 
the devastated country along the Rhine, French Huguenots 
from England, bands of Scotch and Irish from their poor 
homes seeking comfort and prosperity in America. These 
foreigners were to be found in almost all of the colonies, and 
formed an important element in the thrift and industry of 
the country; but their numbers were not great enough to 
account for the surprising increase of the population. Most 
of that was native, and is proof of the health and plenty 
which pervaded the land. 

Peace in George I.'s Reign. — Old German George was a 
bad old man who knew little of his English dominions and 
loved them less. He spent most of his time in his dear 
Hanover, and let his Englishmen govern themselves in the 
main. As for America, he did not meddle with it at all. 
The English ministers of the crown had their hands full at 
home, and so the colonies were left pretty much alone. It 
was a time of peace in Europe, when all the nations were 
glad to rest after their exhausting wars. Peace also was 
kept in America, except for occasional contests with the 
Indians, and in these the whites had always the best of it. 

Yemassee War in South Carolina, 1715. — The most heated 
of these contests was in South Carolina. The Yemassee 
Indians dwelling in the southwestern part of the colony had 
always been friendly to the English, and had even aided them 
against the Tuscaroras. But now they became hostile, and 
made a sudden onslaught upon the whites. At dawn of 
April 17th Pocotaligo was attacked, and one hundred whites 
were butchered without warning. People from other vil- 

[104] 



The Colonies Under George I. 105 

lages fled to Charleston, and the country was filled with 
terror. 

Defeat of the Yemassees. — The Yemassees were nine 
thousand strong, while the whites could only number a few 
hundred men. Governor Craven, however, collected all 
the white men, and some faithful slaves, and made prompt 
resistance against the Indians. Their warfare was as treach- 
erous and cruel as it had been in New England. North 
Carolina and Virginia sent men, and New England arms, 
to assist the South Carolinians, and at last the Yemassees 
were driven across the Savannah River and into Florida. 
Among the forces which distinguished themselves in this 
time of danger were " The Goose Creek Militia," under com- 
mand of Captain Chicken, who was afterwards called the 
gallant " game cock." 

South Carolina Becomes a Royal Province. — Not long 
after this, the South Carolinians threw off the power of the 
proprietary rulers, and elected Col. Moore to govern them. 
Their action was approved in England, and South Carolina 
became a royal province. 

Governor Spotswood in Virginia. — Queen Anne had sent 
to Virginia, in 1710, Alexander Spotswood, the best royal gov- 
ernor the province ever had. Colonel Spotswood had been 
a gallant soldier, and was severely wounded in the battle of 
Blenheim. The Virginians welcomed Governor Spotswood, 
not only because he was a distinguished officer, and a cul- 
tivated, accomplished gentleman, but especially because he 
brought to the colony a revival of the right of Habeas Corpus, 
the exercise of which had hitherto been in a great degree 
withheld from them. This is the law which protects an 
Englishman from illegal imprisonment. On the whole, 
they got on well for a long time with Spotswood, though 
sometimes the assembly refused to vote the money he asked 
for to carry out improvements, and sometimes the council 
thwarted his regulations. But, notwithstanding these checks, 
his administration did much to develop the resources, pros- 
perity and advance of Virginia. He held the tributary 
Indians firmly to their treaties of peace, while he built and 
supported schools for the education of their children. 

Teach, or Blackbeard. — He acted with so much vigor 
against the pirates that the most famous and destructive 



106 History of the United States. 

among them, John Teach, or Blackbeard, was defeated by 
Lieutenant Maynard with a Virginia vessel in Pamlico 
Sound. Teach was killed and his beard was cut off and 
hung to the bowsprit of Maynard's ship. Thirteen of 
Teach's men were brought to Williamsburg, tried, and hung, 
in 1718. 

Governor Spotswood's Iron Furnaces in 1714. — Spots- 
wood also interested himself in planting and mining. He 
improved the staple of tobacco; and established in 1714, on 
his estate at Germanna, on the Rappahannock, where he had 
placed a band of German immigrants, one of the first fur- 
naces for forging iron in Virginia, among the first in the 
English colonies. At another furnace on his estate of Mas- 
saponax, lower down the Rappahannock, there was a foun- 
dry where many simple utensils were cast, such as andirons, 
firebacks, pots, shovels, parts of wagons, and gardening 
tools. These utensils were much better and cheaper than 
those brought from England, and were in great demand. 

The Alleghany Mountains. — The deed by which Spots- 
wood is best known is his march, or exploring expedition, 
beyond the Blue Ridge Mountains. Monks and traders 
had, as we have seen, penetrated into the region lying along 
the Mississippi. Traders had also gone from the southern 
part of Carolina among the Indians as far as Natchez. But 
from New York to Carolina, where the great mountain bar- 
riers lie, range after range, between the tidewater slopes and 
the great prairie country, few white men had ever crossed 
them. No one had brought back any reliable description of 
what lay beyond the mountains. Immigration was working 
its way up the great rivers of Virginia. The governor had 
established a stately home at Germanna, and became eager 
to find for himself what the mountains held in their keep- 
ing. 

Expedition Across the Blue Ridge, 1716. — Having in- 
spired some of the Virginians with a desire to share in the 
enterprise, the governor left Williamsburg, early in August, 
1716, and went to " Chelsea," the home of his son-in-law, 
Austin Moore, on the Mattaponi, a few miles from the 
head of the York River. Here assembled the party of 
twelve gentlemen, two small companies of rangers, and four 
Meherrin Indians, to act as interpreters, if any strange 



The Colonies Under George I. 



107 



Indians were encountered. At Germanna the horses were 
all shod that they might better travel the rough paths of 
the mountain region. Right up the Rappahannock they 
took their course, and were filled with admiration of the 
fine country, the rich grass, and grand trees about its head- 
waters. Game of all sorts abounded, and gave them fine 
sport and luxurious fare. On the 5th of September, thirty- 
six days after leaving Williamsburg, Spotswood had the 
happiness of climbing to the top of the Blue Ridge and 
gazing upon the beautiful Valley of Virginia which lay 
spread out before the delighted eyes of himself and his 




SPOTSWOOD CROSSING THE BLUE EIDGE. 



companions. It is not known certainly at what point in 
the range this crossing was made, but Swift Run Gap is 
thought to be the place. 

Valley of Virginia Taken by the " Knights of the Golden 
Horseshoe." — The trumpets were sounded, King George's 
health was drunk, and the whole region declared a part of 
his dominions. Descending to the western side of the 
mountains, the explorers went seven miles farther, crossed 
the Shenandoah River, which they called the Euphrates, 
fished in its waters, camped on its banks, again drank 
healths to the king, to each other, and to everybody else, in 
wine, brandy, rum, champagne, canary, and cider, for they 
were mighty drinkers in those days ; and the next day 
the gentlemen turned their faces homewards, leaving the 
rangers to explore the valley farther. Spotswood had small 



108 History of the United States. 

golden horseshoes made for each of his companions on this 
expedition, and wished to establish the Order of the 
" Knights of the Golden Horseshoe." But the English 
government did not encourage it, and it came to nothing. 
The horseshoes became only souvenirs, and the order a ro- 
mance. Not one of the horseshoes is still in existence. 
The frontier of Virginia was now extended, and the new 
county of Spotsylvania took in the pass through which the 
" Knights of the Golden Horseshoe " had discovered the 
Shenandoah Valley. 

Spotswood Displaced by the Council. — Notwithstanding 
his ability, his public spirit, and unfailing interest in the 
welfare of the colony, Spotswood gave great umbrage to the 
Virginians by taking sides with the clergy against the ves- 
tries; and as both the people and the council were opposed 
to him, he was displaced in 1722. 

Power of the Council. — The council had become very 
powerful in Virginia. Its twelve members were also the 
principal judges and the chief militia officers in the colony. 
By a unanimous vote they could set aside any decree of the 
governor. When there was no governor, the president 
of the council became the head of the colony. To be a 
member of the body was almost equal to a patent of no- 
bility. 

Colonial "Postal System. — Colonel Spotswood remained in 
Virginia dividing his time between his different estates. 
William of Orange had established a colonial postal system 
in 1693, but the thinness of the population, and the dis- 
tance between the settlements, prevented its becoming of 
much effect. In 1730 Colonel Spotswood was made deputy 
postmaster-general for the colonies, and put such energy 
into the work that he brought Williamsburg and Philadel- 
phia within eight or ten days of each other. Benjamin 
Franklin was appointed a deputy postmaster under Gover- 
nor S})otswood. 

Prosperity of Virginia. — It is amusing to read from 
Spotswood's letters to England that the people of Virginia 
were opposed to the postal system, because they thought 
the postage they were required to pay was a tax on them 
which the English had no right to lay. Under Spotswood's 
administration and during his residence in Virginia, 



The Colonies Under George I. 109 

that colony attained as much importance and enjoyed as 
much prosperity as she did at any time previous to the 
Revohition, 

How the Planters Lived. — The wealthy planters, follow- 
ing his example, lived in much elegance at their stately 
homes, some of which still adorn the old plantations along 
the river banks. Their oldest sons were sent to England 
for school and university training. The younger sons were 
graduated at William and Mary College; while the daughters, 




■WILLIAM AND MAEY COLLEGE, KOUNDED 1693. 

With as much education as was customary for women in 
those days, went with their dignified mothers to Williams- 
burg during the season, danced at the governor's balls given 
in honor of the king's birthday, and assisted in the enter- 
tainment of the guests in their hospitable homes. 

Indian Fighting in Maine. — Under the treaty made at 
Utrecht, France was bound not to molest the Iroquois, and 
New York was protected by these Indians lying between her 
and Canada. But both France and England claimed the east- 
ern half of Maine, and there was another outburst of savage 
warfare along the Kennebec. The French settlement at 
Norridgewock was surprised by a party from New England. 
In the fierce hand-to-hand fight which ensued, the aged 
Rasles, the last of the Jesuit missionaries among the Abe- 
nakis, was cruelly mangled and slain. After more fighting, 



110 History of the United States. 

the Indians acknowledged the English power and made a 
treaty of peace, which was long and faithfully kept. The 
St. John's River then became the eastern boundary of Maine. 
Steady Advance of the Colonies. — This local struggle 
with the Indians did little to retard the advance and pros- 
perity of the colonies. There was always more or less con- 
test between the royal governors and the colonial assemblies 
in the other colonies, as we have seen it exist in Virginia. 
But education and the enlightenment of the people steadily 
increased. 

AUTHORITIES.— Bancroft's History of the United States, Vols. II., III.; Hildreth's 
History of tlie United States, Vol. II. ; Winsor's Narrative and Critical History of tiie 
United states. Vols. III., V. ; Campbell's History of Virginia; Fiske's Beginnings of 
New England; Cooke's History of Virginia; Ramsay's History of South Carolina. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. Tell of the growth of population in 1G88-1714. 3. How 
did George I. reign ? 3. Tell of the Yemassee war in South Carolina, and its 
result. 4. Who were two of its leaders ? 5. What did South Carolina become 
about this time? 6. Tell of Governor Spotswood; and of Blackbeard. 
7. Who first made utensils and tools of iron in the colonies ? 8. Had the Alle- 
ghany Mountains been explored ? 9. What expedition did Spotswood lead ? 
10. Describe the Valley of Virginia and its discovery. 11. When was Spots- 
wood displaced ? 12. How long had he been governor? 13. What power had 
the council? 14. Tell of the postal system of those days. 15. How did the 
planters live ? 16. Tell of the troubles in Maine. 17. The prosperity of the 
colonies. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

SETTLEMENT OF GEORGIA. 

James Edward Oglethorpe. — In 1733, James Oglethorpe 
brought over a colony of Englishmen and settled them where 
the city of Savannah stands. The origin 
of this new settlement was a most interest- 
ing one. The laws of England were very 
hard towards poor men. Imprisonment 
was the fate of every one who contracted a 
debt and had no means to pay it. Seeing 
the thousands who were languishing in 
jail with no hope of release, Oglethorpe, 
who was a member of Parliament, became 
OGLETHORPE. dccply conccmed at their hopeless misery. 
He was a man of fine education, of noble character, and of 




Settlement of Georgia. 



Ill 



excellent judgment, and was besides an experienced soldier. 
He first engaged the Parliament to do something for the 
imprisoned debtors, and then, seeing that they needed help 
and comfort, as well as release, he laid a plan to provide 
them with homes and work in America. 

Settlement at Savannah, 1733. — George II. had succeeded 
his father in 1727. He saw the advantage of making a new 
settlement south of the Savannah River, and granted to 
Oglethorpe a patent for the country lying between that river 
and the Altamaha, calling it Georgia in honor of himself. 
To release the debtors and provide for them and their fami- 
lies and for all the expense of making the new settlement, 
required a great deal of money, but Oglethorpe had aroused 
so much interest in his project that large contributions 
were made to it. Parliament voted ten thousand pounds 
and rich men and missionary organizations gave so much 
more, that about half a million dollars were raised. Ogle- 
thorpe not only gave his means — he gave himself %,lso. 
Coming out with his first supply of one hundred and fifty 
emigrants, he selected the site for his first town on the bluff 
where Savannah now stands. 

City of Savannah. — Here he pitched his tent, and occu- 
pied himself in laying off the new town. The situation 
was beautiful, the climate delightful, and the new settle- 




SEXTLEMENT OF SAVANNAH, 1733. 



ment soon presented an encouraging appearance with its 
regular streets and neat wooden cabins. A large garden 
was laid out on the river bank, where seeds from Europe 
3,nd wild plants from the woods were to be grown. 



112 History of the United States. 

Treaties with Indians. — The Yamacraw Indians were only- 
half a mile away from the new town, but they were friendly 
and brought the white men a present of a buffalo skdn, 
painted on the inside with the head and feathers of an eagle. 
"The feathers of the eagle are soft, and signify love," said 
Tomo-chichi, their chief. Before long, eight chiefs of the 
Muskogees, who claimed the country south of the Savan- 
nah, also sought for friendship with the English. Ogle- 
thorpe received them kindly, and a treaty was made. Under 
this treaty, the English afterwards claimed authority over 
the country to the St. John's River. The Cherokee Indians 
also came from the mountain region seeking friendly rela- 
tions; and even the Avestern Choctaws sent to proffer friend- 
ship and trade. They complained that the French were 
building forts among them, and said that they preferred the 
English. 

Salzburger Settlement. — Oglethorpe not only planned a 
refuge for oppressed Englishmen, but offered, also, an asy- 
lum to persecuted Protestants. Only Roman Catholics were 
excluded from his province. The first settlers who accepted 
his invitation to enjoy religious freedom were a band of Ger- 
man Protestants from Salzburg, who came over as early as 
1734 with Baron von Reck at their head, and who brought 
their pastor, Martin Bolsius, with them. The trustees, or 
body of Englishmen in whose hands Oglethorpe had placed 
the control of Georgia, furnished the passage for these im- 
migrants, and provided for them on their arrival. Ogle- 
thorpe himself went down to the mouth of the river to 
meet and welcome them. They chose a tract of land about 
thirty miles up the river, where they established a peaceful 
and prosperous settlement. Other Salzburgers followed, and 
ere long a Moravian congregation, led by their pastor, crossed 
the sea, and took their place close by their German coun- 
trymen. These people were industrious, hardy, and thrifty. 
They brought with them their frugal German habits, and 
were inured to hardship and privation. Other bands of 
Germans followed them. Italians came also to introduce 
the culture of silk; and all proved helpful in building up 
the prosperity and developing the resources of the new 
country. It was well that they had come, for the poor Eng- 
lish people who had been brought over were little used to 



Settlement of Georgia. 113 

labor, and were helpless and dissatisfied, and left by them- 
selves would have accomplished little in aid of the colony. 

Scotch in Darien. — After settling the Germans, Ogle- 
thorpe went back to England to stir up the interest there, 
and to bring out fresh colonists. He persuaded his friend 
Tomo-chichi and a band of his Indians to go with him. 
These Indians excited much admiration. The new colony 
was widely talked of; and before long Oglethorpe was able 
to return to Georgia with several hundred recruits. It was 
important to extend the bounds of the colony, and to make 
settlements especially towards the south near the Span- 
iards. A body of Highlanders from Scotland with their 
wives and children and their pastor, the Rev. John McLeod, 
was given land at the most southern point — the post of 
danger — on the banks of the Altamaha river, about sixteen 
miles from St. Simon's Island. These sturdy Scots set to 
work and built a fort for their defence, and made homes for 
themselves, calling the country about them Darien. Ogle- 
thorpe established a trading post at Augusta, and then made 
a fortified town on the west side of St. Simon's Island, which 
was well laid out and strongly defended. This town was 
called Frederica, and was intended to be the chief military 
post of Georgia. 

Slavery and Rum Prohibited. — During his visit to Eng- 
land, Oglethorpe had induced Parliament to prohibit the 
carrying of slaves or rum into Georgia. Many of the set- 
tlers were dissatisfied with this prohibition. They saw that 
white labor could not accomplish as much as that of the 
negro in the southern climate, and were eager to do as 
their neiglibors did. 

The Wesleys and Whitefield.— Two 
clergymen of the Church of England, 
afterwards famous as teachers and preach- 
ers of the gospel, the brothers John 
and Charles Wesley, had come from Eng- 
land, in 1736, hoping to do much good in 
preaching to the colonists and Christian- 
izing the Indians. They were much im- 
pressed by the piety and purity of the 
Moravians, and John declared that he was Jo^^ wksley. 
truly converted under their influence. They both 
8 





114 History of the United States. 

strongly opposed the introduction of slaves during the 
two years they remained in Georgia. 
George Whitefield also, the most elo- 
quent preacher of his day, came out to 
the new colony. He was so struck with 
an orphan asylum among the Moravians 
that he established one at Savannah, 
which exists there still. Whitefield 
j.j,w,<v^^^g«8^-\,3,,^> favored the introduction of negroes, on 
' |. vl-v ' the ground that it was the best means of 
GEORGE WHITEFIELD. doiug thosc poor savagcs good. He 
proved to be on the stronger side, and African slavery was 
practiced in Georgia as in the other twelve colonies. 

Preparations for War with the Spaniards. — If the Span- 
iards in Florida had been jealous of South Carolina, they 
were still more hostile to the settlements in Georgia. In a 
few years, it became evident that there must be fighting, for 
the Georgians would not submit to have their slaves enticed 
away and the Indians stirred up against them by their 
enemies in Florida. Oglethorpe now prepared for the war 
which he saw must come. He went to England and raised 
a regiment of six hundred men for the conflict. The king 
made him a general, and appointed him commander-in- 
chief of all the forces in Georgia and South Carolina. He 
brought his regiment over to his town of Frederica, 
which was as strongly fortified as his resources allowed. 
Before making war on the Spaniards, General Oglethorpe 
renewed his treaties with the Indians. To eff'ect this, he 
travelled through the wild country to the banks of the 
Chattahoochee, where he met the chiefs of the Creeks, the 
Muskogees, the Choctaws, the Chickasaws, and other tribes, 
gave them presents, smoked the pipe of peace, and obtained 
a confirmation of the English title to the lands which com- 
pose the State of Georgia. Having thus secured peace to 
the westward, he was the more ready for war at the south. 
Attack on St. Augustine. — War broke out between Eng- 
land and Spain in 1739, and Oglethorpe was ordered to 
invade Florida and capture St. Augustine. His attempt to 
carry out this order was rendered unsuccessful by the 
coming in of Spanish vessels and by dreadful sickness 
among his troops. Forced to return to Georgia, General 



Settlement of Georgia. 



115 




Oglethorpe devoted his energies to strengthening his own 
defences, feeling sure that he would be attacked in his 
turn. 

Fleet Before Savannah. — Sure enough, in June, 1742, a 
Spanish fleet of fifty sail, with five thousand troops on board, 
appeared off the coast of Geor- 
gia, intending to capture Frede- 
rica and destroy all the English 
settlements south of the Savan- 
nah River' To oppose this for- 
midable attack, Oglethorpe had 
not more than a thousand men, 
a few small armed vessels, and 
some inconsiderable forts. He 
made wonderful use of these 
inadequate resources. On one 
occasion, when he knew that 
a deserter had betrayed his weak- 
ness to the Spaniards, he wrote 
the deserter a letter asking him 
to persuade them to attack him 
at once, or, if he could not do this, to induce them to remain 
three days longer, as by that time he would be reinforced 
by six British war vessels and two thousand troops. This let- 
ter was given to a Spanish prisoner, who, of course, carried it 
to the Spanish commander. The Spainards were much 
perplexed, and while they were making up their minds, 
some ships sent down from Charleston made their appear- 
ance. The Spaniards became panic-stricken, burned their 
fortifications, and retreated, leaving their cannon and stores. 
It seemed little less than a miracle, and the deliverance of 
Georgia may rightly be attributed to the care of Providence, 
perhaps an answer to the prayers of good men and women 
who were asking God to protect them from the cruel Span- 
iards. 

Death of Oglethorpe. — After some years. General Ogle- 
thorpe returned to England, where he was afterwards made 
the commander-in-chief of the English army. He lived to 
a great age, much respected by all. 

Georgia Becomes a Royal Province, 1752. — In 1752 
Georgia became a royal province, and continued to increase 



MARTELLO TOWER. ON TTBBE ISLAND. 



116 History of the United States. 

steadily in population and prosperity to the beginning of 
the war of the American Revolution. 

King George's War. — Besides fighting for King George in 
Georgia the colonies took part in an English expedition 
against the Spanish possessions in South America, on which 
expedition they sent four thousand men. Nothing was ac- 
complished by it save the battering down of some Spanish 
forts. But the unhealthiness of the country wrought 
deadly havoc to the English troops, and of the four thousand 
American soldiers, only four hundred lived to return home. 

Indians Sell the Northwest to Virginia, 1744. — After 
three years of peace, war was again declared between France 
and England; but it did not disturb the colonies. In 1722, 
Governor Spotswood of Virginia had made a treaty of 
peace with the Six Nations. In this year another treaty 
was made with them, by which they bound themselves for 
four hundred pounds, to make a deed " recognizing the 
king's right to all the lands that are or shall be by his Ma- 
jesty's appointment in the colony of Virginia." This deed, 
like her charters, extended the claims of Virginia indefi- 
nitely towards the west and northwest. 

War in New England. — Wherever the French and Eng- 
lish settlements were near together there was constant dan- 
ger of strife. This was particularly the case between the 
New Englanders and the French colonies on the coast. The 
New Englanders now felt themselves strong enough to send 
an expedition against Louisburg on Cape Breton Island, the 
strongest French fortress after Quebec. 

Capture of Louisburg — Pesxe, 1748. — After a siege of six 
weeks, Louisburg was taken on .June 17th, 1745, by four 
thousand New England soldiers assisted hj four English 
war ships. This was a gallant exploit and was greatly 
praised in England. The commander, William Pepperell, a 
rich Maine merchant, was made a baronet, and all New 
England was very proud of him and his success. When 
peace was again declared, in 1748, it was agreed that every- 
thing should stand as it had been before the war began, 
and, to the disgust of New England, Louisburg was restored 
to France. 

Steady Improvement. — I have already told you that there 
was constant progress and improvement in the colonies 



Settlement of Georgia. 117 

during these wars with the French and Indians. Their 
population had more than doubled in fifty years. Their 
commerce had improved even more, and although the 
mother country steadily discouraged and even prohibited 
their manufactories, their spirit of industry and invention 
and their efforts to develop the resources of their coun- 
try could not be restrained. 

First Newspaper. — Boston was the leading town in com- 
merce and ship-building, and New England had already 
built fine war vessels for the English navy. In Boston, too, 
the first American newspaper. The Neius Letter, bad been 
published, in 1704. By this time there were several other 
papers in New England, in New York, Philadelphia, Mary- 
land, Virginia, and South Carolina. No college had as yet 
been added to the three already mentioned — Harvard at 
Boston, William and Mary in Virginia, and Yale in Con- 
necticut. 

Printing in Virginia — Foundation of Baltimore and Rich- 
mond. — Printing, so long prohibited in Virginia, had at 
last made its way into the colony, and although the Vir- 
ginians do not seem to have been writers of letters and 
keepers of diaries, as were the New Englanders, nor so 
eager to have their sermons, speeches, and abuse of one an- 
other printed, a History of Virginia, and The Laws of the 
Colony, had been printed there. In 1729, the city of Balti- 
more was laid out, and Richmond in 1737. In this same 
year, when Spotswood was deputy postmaster-general for 
the provinces, there was a weekly mail from the north to 
Williamsburg, Virginia. From there a mail was sent once 
a month to Edenton, North Carolina, by way of Norfolk- 
town. 

Benjamin Franklin — George Washington. — In 1724, there 
had come to Philadelphia from Boston, having run away 
from an unreasonable brother to whom he was apprenticed, 
a young printer, Benjamin Franklin by name. He had 
received little education, but had a fine intellect, a healthy 
body, industrious habits, and great perseverance. He 
understood his trade well, and soon found employment in 
Philadelphia. His good sense and clear judgment gained 
him many friends, and you will see what an important part 
he played in the stirring times about to open before you. 



118 History of the United States. 

Other men greater and better even than Franklin were now 
growing up and being trained for the work before them in 
shaping the destinies of their country. Foremost among 
these was George Washington, who was born at " Wake- 
field," near Bridges' Creek, on the banks of the Potomac, 
in Westmoreland County, Virginia, on February 22, 1732. 

AUTHORITIES.— Bancroft s History of the United States. Vol. III., chapter XXII. ; 
Hildreths History of the United States, Vol. II.; Winsor's Narrative and Critical 
History of the United States. Vol, V.; Appleton's Encyclopedia— articles, Ogle- 
thorpe and Georgia; Irving's Life of Washington; Campbell's History of Virginia; 
Fiske's BeginningE of New England. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. Who was James Edward Oglethorpe? 2. When was 
Georgia settled? 3. Describe the city of Savannah in 1733. 4. Who were 
the Salzbnrgers ? 5. Who was their leader ? 0. Where did the Scotch set- 
tle ? 7. What were at first prohibited ? 8. Describe the work of Wesley and 
Whitefield in Georgia. 9. With whom was a war now declared ? 10. What 
treaties did Oglethorpe make ? 11. Why was the attack on St. Augustine a 
failure ? 13. Relate the story of the Spanish fleet before Savannah. 13. Where 
did Oglethorpe die? 14. When did Georgia become a royal province? 
15. Tell of the expedition against South America. 16. How did Virginia now 
gain the northwest ? 17. What town was captured by the New Englanders? 
18. When was peace made? 19. Tell of the steady improvement. 20. When 
and where was the first newspaper published? 21. What was its name? 
22. What books were printed in Virginia ? 23. Tell of Benjamin Franklin 
and George Washmgton. 



CHAPTER XIX. 

SETTLEMENT OF THE VALLEY OF VIRGINIA— THE FRENCH 
IN THE WEST. 

Settlement of the Valley of Virginia, 1732. — Some years 
elapsed after Spotswood's visit to the Valley of the Shenan- 
doah before permanent settlements were made beyond the 
Blue Ridge Mountains. The reports brought by hunters and 
traders gradually attracted attention to the fair land, and a 
tide of emigration set in thither. The first settlement had 
been made by Joist Hite, who brought from Pennsylvania 
his own family and a number of others, and settled on the 
Opequon Creek in 1732. Other and more numerous parties 
of Scotch-Irish Presbyterian immigrants moved southward 
from Pennsylvania, and established themselves at different 
points along the branches and tributaries of the Shenan- 
doah. These settlers coming from Pennsylvania had little 



Settlement of the Valley of Virginia. H9 

difficulty with the Indians, who had always been friendly to 
Penn's colony. For the Virginians — the Long Knives — 
the savages had great hatred, and were much opposed to 
their coming into the valley. The beginning of the town 
of Winchester had been two cabins, built there in 1738, 
near the Shawnee Springs, where the Indians used to camp 
when on their hunting parties. 

Salling-'s Exploration. — About this time John Marlin, a 
peddler, and John Sailing, a weaver, set out to explore the 
great valley running southward. They got as far as the Roa- 
noke River, when a band of Cherokee Indians attacked 
them. Marlin escaped, but Sailing was taken prisoner and 
carried from place to place among the Indians for six years. 
When Sailing got back to Williamsburg, he found there a 
party of Scotch-Irish immigrants who had just come from 
the old country to settle in America. Two of the leading 
men among them, John Lewis and John Mackey, were so 
much pleased with Sailing's account of the valley that they 
at once visited it with him. Delighted with the country, 
Lewis established himself near Staunton and built a stone 
house — Lewis's Fort; Mackey settled farther west, near the 
Buffalo Gap; and Sailing, fifty miles away, built his cabin 
at the forks of the James River, where " Sailing's Moun- 
tain " tells of his exploration. 

Daniel Burden in Rockbridge County. — Not long after 
this, Daniel Burden, the agent of Lord Fairfax, visited his 
countryman Lewis, in his backwoods home. To see the 
region was to desire it, and Burden lost no time in obtaining 
permission to take up five hundred thousand acres of land, 
on condition that he should within ten years settle upon it 
one hundred families. This grant comprised a good deal 
of what is now Rockbridge County in Virginia. The fami- 
lies brought over by Burden were also Scotch-Irish. The 
first settlers of this Rockbridge land were Ephraim Mc- 
Dowell and James Greenlee, who established their homes 
in 1739. 

The Scotch-Irish Settlers. — The Scotch-Irish settlers were 
a manly, sturdy race, whether they came direct from the old 
country or moved southward from Pennsylvania. Among 
them were men of good family and education. As soon as 
they had provided homes for their families, they set about 



120 History of the United States. 

building churches. Dreading to leave the women and chil- 
dren to be frightened, if not attacked, by Indians, the whole 
community repaired to the place where a church was to be 
built, and, while some worked, others stood guard against 
any attack from the crafty savages. These old stone churches 
are still to be seen, where the women brought sand for the 
mortar in their aprons, while their husbands and sons built 
up the rock they had quarried with hard labor. There 
seem to have been no permanent Indian settlements in the 
valley, but roving bands of Indians were constantly on the 
move, hunting for game or scalps, and taking whatever 
suited their fancy. The lot of these early settlers was one 
of hardship and anxiety. But they continued to come, and 
extended their settlements southwestward to the Cumber- 
land Mountains. 

Religious Toleration. — Virginia had, you remember, been 
settled by cavaliers and English churchmen, and laws had 
been made bearing hardly upon dissenters, but active per- 
secution had never been practiced, although there was little 
liking for other modes of faith and worship east of the 
mountains. When, however, the emigration of Presbyte- 
rians from Pennsylvania took place to the Valley of Vir- 
ginia, a petition was made that they should be allowed " the 
free enjoyment of their civil and religious liberties." Gov- 
ernor Gooch was favorable to them and granted them full 
tolefation. 

Germans in the Valley, 1745. — Besides the Scotch-Irish, 
there came into Virginia numbers of Germans from Penn- 
sylvania, who settled on the Potomac at Shepherdstown, 
and also in what are now the counties of Shenandoah 
and Rockingham, where many of their descendants still 
remain. 

George Washington, the Young Surveyor. — From his great 
estate on the Rappahannock to his broad lands in the val- 
ley came, in 1745, Thomas, Lord Fairfax, and settled at 
Greenway Court, thirteen miles from Winchester. George 
Washington was a connection of Lord Fairfax, and in 1748, 
when he was not seventeen years old. Lord Fairfax em- 
ployed him to survey the vast tract of land, embracing 
several counties, which he claimed by virtue of the king's 
patent. So thorough and accurate was the work done by 



1 




BIENVILLE. 



Settlement of the Valley of Virginia. 121 

the youthful surveyor, that no later engineer has ever been 
able to find a mistake in any of the plats made by him. 

The French in the West and North. — While the English 
had, after so long a time, only reached the slopes of the 
Alleghany Mountains, the French had steadily pushed and 
strengthened their claims in the great 
country west of them. They kept up the 
military posts and forts established by 
La Salle on the Illinois and Mississippi 
Rivers. Bienville settled Louisiana and 
founded New Orleans in 1718, and from j^ 
that time continual intercourse was kept K 
up between Canada and Louisiana. At 
first the southern colony kej^t on friendly 
terms with the Indians, as Canada 
had done, but when the French pushed 
their settlements up the Mississippi and established forts 
among the red men, strife and hatred grew up between 
them. The Natchez Indians massacred all the whites settled 
among them, and were in their turn harried and destroyed 
by the French. In the Illinois country there were flourish- 
ing settlements with some two thousand French inhabi- 
tants. The French traders and farmers frequently married 
the Indian women, and thus a half-breed population grew 
up. Farming was prosperous in the fertile prairie soil, and 
abundant supplies of flour, corn, pork and beef, fowls and 
game, with leather, tallow, and other productions of the 
country, were floated down the river to the French at New 
Orleans and elsewhere. In 1736 the Chickasaws had 
evinced a hostile spirit, and Bienville determined to attack 
them with two columns — one led by himself from the south, 
and the other to come from the Illinois country. The plan 
was good, but the forces did not arrive at the same time, 
and so the Indians were able to defeat them separately. 
The captives taken were treated with the most savage bar- 
barity. 

French Claims to the Ohio. — Still the establishment of 
French posts went on. Fort Niagara had been built in 
1728. Crown Point, on Lake Champlain, in 1731. They 
now gave the name of Vincennes to their principal post on 
the Wabash. By the middle of the century they had es- 



122 History of the United States. 

tablished sixty posts and forts between the Lakes and the Gulf 
of Mexico. They had taken possession of little territory 
except that lying immediately on the Illinois, the Wabash, 
and the Mississippi Rivers. But they now turned their at- 
tention to the Ohio — la belle rivih^e — the beautiful river, and 
the fertile country drained by its waters. Celeron was 
sent to explore and claim it for France. This he did by 
nailing to the trees and burying in the ground, at the 
mouths of the rivers running into the Ohio, leaden plates 
with an inscription on them that France claimed all the land 
lying upon the Ohio and its tributaries on both sides, and 
would defend its claim by force of arms. 

Resistance to the French Claims. — To this claim, both the 
English in the colonies and the Indians along the rivers 
were opposed. The colonies had repeatedly protested 
against the French advance into the country they consid- 
ered their own, and had, in vain, tried to induce the Eng- 
lish government to prevent it. They could not now sit still 
and submit to be shut out from the regions beyond the 
mountains, into which their traders and adventurous hunters 
were gradually pushing westward. Pennsylvania sent Ben- 
jamin Franklin to consult with the Indian tribes along the 
headwaters of the Ohio. A council was held at Logstown, 
not far from Pittsburg, and the Indians determined to op- 
pose the French. They did not wish 
either white nation to take possession of 
tlieir country, and sent their chief, "The 
Half King," to tell the French com- 
mander this at his fort near Lake Erie. 
The Frenchman repulsed the Indian em- 
bassy rudely, and flung back the wampum 
belt they offered him. This incensed the 
Indians and they agreed to Franklin's 
proposition that the}^ should join the col- 
onies in helping to drive out the French. Franklin carried 
back to Philadelphia the threatening intelligence that the 
French had already built forts at Erie, at Waterford, and 
Venango on the Alleghany River, and that they were pre- 
paring to do the same on the Monongahela. 

Grant to the Ohio Company of Virginians, 1749. — The Ohio 
Company of Virginians was established by the English Par- 




HALF KING. 



Settlement of the Valley of Virginia. 123 

liamentin 1749, to which were given six hundred thousand 
acres of land on the south side of the Ohio, and permission 
to trade exclusively with the Indians south of the river. Sur- 
veyors were sent out to explore and take up the land; and it 
is no wonder that when the Indians saw Celeron with his 
leaden plates on the north, and the English with their com- 
passes and chains on the south , treating the land as their own, 
they should have enquired where the lands of the Indians 
lay. The advance of the French to the Monongahela would 
bring them into Virginia territory, and the time had come 
for the Virginia colony to assert itself in opposition to such 
encroachment. 

AUTHORITIES.— Bancroft's History of the United States, Vol. III. ; Winsor's Nar- 
rative and Critical History of the United States, Vol. V. ; Campbell's and Cooke's His- 
tories of Virginia; Roosevelt's Winning of the West; Marshall's and Irving's Lives 
of Washington. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. When and by whom was the Valley of Virginia settled? 
2. Relate the story of Sailing's exploration. 3. Of Daniel Burden in Rock- 
bridge County. 4. Where did the Scotch-Irish settle? 5. How did they 
build their churches? 6. Was there religious freedom in Virginia? 7. What 
other race settled in the Valley ? 8. Tell of George Washington as a surveyor. 
9. The advance of the French in the west and north. 10. To what river did 
they now lay claim ? 11. Who resisted their claim? 13. What grant was 
made to Virginia in 1749 ? 



CHAPTER XX. 

OP SWING OF THE COLONIAL WAB. 

Cause of the Colonial War, 1750. — The war now about to 
open was different from the previous American wars, which 
had been fought with the Indians for self-preservation, or 
with the French and Spanish, because England had quar- 
relled with them. This war was begun by the colonies in 
defence of what they considered their rights. Most of 
the people were native born and strongly attached to 
their country. They had increased until there were nearly 
two millions of them, while in the vast regions claimed by 
France not more than twenty thousand whites were to be 
found. It is true, that the French had at last made 
friends with the Iroquois, and were in alliance with the In- 
dians of the Northwest. But the native colonists did not 



124 



History of the United States. 



dread the Indians as the early settlers had done. They had 
learned their modes of warfare, and the traders and 
hardy back-woodsmen were as rapid in movement, as 
secret and sudden in attack, as alert on the march or in 
the camp, as fearless in danger, and as stoical in defeat as 
the red men. 

Washington's Embassy to the French. — Governor Dinwid- 
dle, of Virginia, informed the English government that the 

French had built forts on the 




headwaters of the Ohio. The 
authorities remonstrated with 
the French king against this 
invasion of their rights, in- 
structed the colonists to defend 
themselves, and sent to Vir- 
ginia thirty light cannon and 
eighty barrels of powder. 
Before coming to open hostili- 
ties, Dinwiddle thought best 
to send to the French com- 
mander on the Ohio a protest 
against his occupying that 
part of Virginia, and a notice 
that if he did not withdraw 
war would be the consequence. 
For this dangerous and deli- 
cate mission, where both cunning savages and sagacious 
Frenchmen were to be encountered, George Washington, 
who was just twenty-one, and who had been commissioned a 
major, seemed the fittest person. Accepting the service, 
Washington set out from Williamsburg on October 30, 
1753. He took with him, to act as interpreter with the 
Frenchmen, his old fencing master, Van Braam, with whom 
he proceeded first to the stockade at Winchester, and then 
to Will's Creek — now Cumberland, Maryland — where the 
Ohio Company had a trading post. Here Christopher Gist, 
the agent of the company, joined the party, as did several 
Indian traders. Through the forest and over the mountains 
of the strange region, they made their way to Logstown to 
confer with the Indian chiefs. The savages were in sympa- 
thy with Washington's errand, and the Half King and three 



VICINITY OF PITTSBURG. 



Opening of the Colonial War. 125 

other chiefs accompanied him to seek the French com- 
mander. So slow were they that Washington did not reach 
Venango for a whole month after leaving Williamsburg. 
Other delays detained him, but at last he got to the French 
post on French Creek, fifteen miles south of Lake Erie. 
The Chevalier de St. Pierre received and entertained the 
young Virginian courteously, but did everything possible to 
entice the Indians to forsake him and join the French. 
While carefully noting everything about the fort and the 
forces, Washington made great efforts to prevent the Indians 
yielding to the cajolements and the rum bestowed on them. 

Homeward Journey, 1753. — It was the 15th of November 
before he set out on his homeward journey, and great were 
the perils and hardships of the way. At last Washington 
and Gist, with their papers, their guns and their blankets, 
struck out on foot from the western part of Pennsylvania 
to make their way back to Virginia. By the 2d of January, 
they reached Gist's home on the Monongahela. Here 
Washington got a horse, and proceeded as fast as he could 
to Williamsburg to deliver his letter, which he did two 
weeks later. 

Result of the Embassy. — The French commander sent a 
civil reply to Dinwiddie, but said he could only obey his 
superiors. Major Washington was sure, from what he had 
seen, that the French would come down the Ohio in the 
spring ; and advised that a fort should be built at the 
"forks of the river," where Pittsburg now stands. 

Fort at Pittsburg- Captured by the French — Recaptured by 
Washington. — Governor Dinwiddie immediately gave direc- 
tions for raising a force of six companies in Virginia. The 
assembly voted two thousand pounds, and the Ohio Com- 
pany sent a small force to build a fort at the junction of the 
Alleghany and Monongahela Rivers. The command of the 
troops was given to Colonel Joshua Fry, an Englishman, 
with Washington, now made lieutenant-colonel, as second 
in command. As soon as two of the companies were ready, 
Washington set out from Alexandria for Will's Creek. 
Here he learned that nearly a thousand Frenchmen with 
cannon had descended the Alleghany River in canoes, had 
driven away the workmen of the Ohio Company, and had 
finished their fort, garrisoned it, and called it Fort Du- 



126 History of the United States. 

quesne, after the Governor of Canada. This attack of the 
French on the Ohio Company made it necessary to treat 
them as enemies. Washington, upon whom the whole 
responsibility had fallen by the sudden death of Colonel Fry, 
sent messengers to Governor Dinwiddle and to the assembly 
of Pennsylvania telling of the French and Fort Duquesne, 
and then advanced very cautiously towards the fort. The 
Indians continued friendly, and the Half King kept him 
informed of the approach of bodies of French troops. A 
small force of the French was met at early dawn of the 
28th of May, 1754. Both parties fired. The French com- 
mander, De Jumonville, and ten of his men were killed, 
and when the provincials rushed forward the others surren- 
dered. Washington had one man killed and three wounded. 
Notwithstanding this first success, the Indians told him that 
the French were as thick as pigeons in the woods, and he 
was obliged to fall back to some place where he could fortify 
and protect his small force. 

Defeat at Great Meadows. 1754. — Retreating to Great 
Meadows, Washington put up a small stockade fort, which 
he called Fort Necessity. He had about four hundred men, 
and before his fort was done, the French, fifteen hundred 
strong, advanced upon it under M. DeVillier. From ten 
o'clock until dark they fought, and Washington was most 
of the time among his men up to his knees in mud and 
water. By nightfall two hundred Frenchmen had been 
killed or wounded, and DeVillier asked for a parley. 

Return to Virginia. — Bravely as the Americans had 
fought, it was impossible for them to keep it up, and an 
honorable capitulation was arranged on the 4th of July, and 
with the promise that the savages should not molest them, 
they set out on their homeward journey. This promise 
was not kept, and the savages harassed them severely. 
When the regiment got back to Williamsburg, a vote of 
thanks was given to Washington and his officers, and a sum 
of money to be divided among the men. 

Braddock's Coming, and Plan of the War. — When the 
news of these American fightings reached Europe, Louis 
XV. of France sent three thousand soldiers to Canada, and 
England made preparations to assist the colonists, though 
each nation professed to be at peace with the other. Early 



Opening of the Colonial War. 



127 



in 1755, Major-General Braddock, with two regiments of 
British regulars, reached Virginia, and was soon joined by 
the colonial troops and military supplies. In April, a coun- 
cil of war was held at Alexandria, in which the governors 
of Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, and Mas- 
sachusetts took part. It was decided to attack the French 
in four separate directions. One force was to be sent 
against them in Nova Scotia; one under Colonel William 
Johnson against Crown Point, one under Governor Shirley 
of Massachusetts against Fort Niagara, and the most im- 
portant of all under General Braddock against Fort Du- 
quesne and the French in the Ohio Valley. 

Exile of the Acadians. — The expedition against Acadia 
was entirely successful. The Acadians, under the advice of 
their priests, refused to become English citizens, and were, 

therefore, expelled from their coun- 
They were taken on board 
the English 
vessels, seven 
thousand of 
the m , and 
carried to dif- 
ferent parts 
of the Eng- 



lish colonies. 

They were a 

simple, kindly folk, devoted to their king and their church, 
and this forced exile from their humble homes w^as a sad 
fate for them. Longfellow has given a touching account of 
their exile in his poem, "Evangeline." 

AUTHORITIES.— Bancroffs History of the United States, Vol. IV. ; Hildreth's His- 
tory of the United States, Vol.11.; Fiske's Beginnings of : New England; Campbell's 
History of Virginia; Irving's Life of Washington; Winsor's Narrative and Critical 
History of the United States, Vol. V. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. What was the cause of the Colonial War ? 2. Tell of 
Washington's embassy to the French in 1753. 3. Who was Half King? 
4. When did he make his homeward ioumey ? 5. What was the result of the 
embassy? 6. Who took the fort at Pittsburg, and who re-took it? 7. Relate 
the story. 8. Tell of the defeat at Great Meadows. 9. What happened when 
they returned to Virginia? 10. Who now assisted the colonists ? 11. When 
did Braddock come to America? 13. What was the plan? 13. Which expe- 
dition was successful? 14. Who has told the story of the Acadians in a 
poem ? 15. Do not forget to find the places mentioned. 




EXILE OF THE ACADIANS. 



CHAPTER XXL 

COLONIAL WAR. 

Braddock's Journey, 1755. — Bracldock set out on his 
march on April 20th with some twenty-five hundred men 
and a great camp equipage unsuited for rough mountain 
travelling. Ho was accompanied hy Colonel Washington 
as his Aide. Braddock thought little of the provincial 
troops, considered the Indians as foes to be little dreaded, 
and would take no precaution against surprise from them. 

The Ambush. — By July 9th, the British force was within 
seven miles of Fort Duquesne. As they passed forward in 
gallant style, the red coats making a fair mark, and their 
bayonets glistening in the sun, suddenly a storm of rifle 
and musket shot poured upon them from an unseen foe. 
They had fallen into the ambush anticipated by the pro- 
vincial troops. The regulars halted and endeavored to 
return the fire, but saw nothing to shoot at. The colonial 
soldiers instinctively scattered among the trees and rocks 
where they, too, would be hidden, and where they might 
pick off their foes man by man. 

Braddock's Defeat. — Terrified by the hidden danger and 
by the yells of their unseen enemies, the regulars retreated. 
A panic ensued. The men abandoned the cannon and 
baggage in the hope of saving their lives. In vain their 
officers tried to rally them. More than seven hundred were 
slain, including General Braddock and three-fourths of the 
officers. 

Washington's Bravery. — Washington was conspicuous for 
his bravery on this disastrous day. His horses were killed 
under him, and his clothing riddled with shot. He assisted 
in bearing Braddock from the field, and, as the chaplain was 
wounded, buried him at Great Meadows. For his gallantry, 
Virginia gave him three hundred pounds and made him 
commander-in-chief of her forces. 

Victory at Lake George. — The news of Braddock's defeat 
stopped the advance upon Fort Niagara, and threw a gloom 
over all the colonies, but they were encouraged by a victory 

[138] 



Colonial War. 



129 




Battlerieia 

rEoSEaKafJ 



which Sir William Johnson gained over the French and 
their Indian allies near Lake George. Although he failed 
to attack Crown Point, Johnson built Fort William Henry, 
which defended the northern part of the Hudson against 
the Canadians. 

Seven Years' War in Europe. — This fighting in America 
was before a war was declared which involved nearly 
the whole of Europe. This was the " Seven 
Years' AVar," in which France, Austria, and 
Russia attempted to conquer Prussia. 
England sided with Prussia, and made 
preparations to press the contest vigorously 
in America, but at first had little success. 

French Successes in New York. — Mont- 
calm, the French commander, was a more 
able soldier than the English generals, and 
had great influence over the Indians. He 
captured the forts Oswego and Ontario at 
the mouth of the Osvv'ego River, and gained 
control of Lake Ontario. He captured Fort 
William Henry the next year, promising 
the garrison that they should have a safe 
conduct to Fort Edward on the Hudson. His Indian allies, 
however, attacked the prisoners and slew them in spite of 
the eff'orts of Montcalm and his officers to protect them. 

English Successes. — The great English statesman, Wil- 
liam Pitt, now took the head of aff'airs, and under his able 
administration matters soon improved. English armies 
and English fleets gained important victories against 
France, and soon the tide of success was felt in America. 
General Abercrombie, who was furnished with the largest 
and best equipped army ever seen in the colonies, failed in 
an attempt which he made to capture Fort Ticonderoga, 
which the French held on Lake Champlain, and retreated, 
in affright, when he found himself stoutly resisted. But 
this was the last important French success. General 
Wolfe with English troops captured and destroyed Louis- 
burg. General Bradstreet seized Fort Frontenac and 
gained control of Lake Ontario, and Colonel Washington 
took possession of Fort Duquesne, from which most of the 
garrison was withdrawn after Frontenac fell. 
9 



LAKE GEORGE. 



130 



History of the United States. 




SIEGE OF QUEBEC. 



Pittsburg. — Fort Duquesne was at once repaired and 
re-named Fort Pitt, The city of Pittsburg, on the same 
spot, also bears the name of the great Englishman. 

Situation of Quebec, 1759. — The events of the next year 
were still more important. Forts Niagara, Ticonderoga, and 

Crown Point all fell into the 
English hands. To capture 
Quebec was now the ardent 
object of desire. Standing 
on a small plain above the 
steep cliffs, the "Heights of 
Abraham," the fortress 
seemed impregnable. The 
enterprise was entrusted to 
the gallant General Wolfe. 

Wolfe's Efforts Against 
Quebec. — Montcalm had as- 
sembled all the soldiers he 
could collect, and held Que- 
bec Avith from seven thousand 
to twelve thousand men. For several months Wolfe watched 
and waited and made various plans by which to reach the 
citadel. At length he detected a narrow path leading up 
between two steep bluffs, and determined to attempt to gain 
the heights behind the fortress by means of it. 

Character of Wolfe. — The 12th of September was filled 
with preparations for the desperate attack. During the 
evening of that day Wolfe went from ship to ship, giving 
his directions and encouraging his men. He was a scholar 
and a poet, as well as a gallant soldier, and on the eve of 
this heroic undertaking his mind was filled with Grey's 
Elegy, that beautiful poem having just come out. The 
verse which he most constantly repeated was: 

" The boast of heraldry, the pomp of power, 

And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave, 
Await alike the inevitable hour. 

The paths of gloiy lead but to the grave." 

And he remarked to one of his friends, " I would rather 
have written that poem than gain the victory over the 
French to-morrow." This poetic fervor did not interfere 
with his military energy. 




Colonial War. 131 

Climbing the Heights of Abraham. — In the darkness of the 
morning of September 13th, the English troops embarked 
in small boats and moved noiselessly to the j)oint where the 
landing was to be made. They were hailed by a French 
sentinel, ''Qui va laf" — " Who goes there? " 
" La France " was the reply. " De quel regi- 
mey«i.^" asked the sentinel. " De la Reinc," 
answered an English captain who knew that 
troops of that name were above the city. 
" Passe," said the sentinel. The cove was 
reached, a body of light infantry landed 
first, clambered up the cliff, and dispersed 
the small j^icket force at the top. The rest 
of the army followed, until four thousand "ol*k. 

five hundred enthusiastic, disciplined British soldiers stood 
on the Plains of Abraliam, on the north side of the citadel. 
They also drew up, with severe labor, one or two small 
cannon. 

First Attack. — Montcalm was greatly surprised when he 
learned that the English had gained the heights. At first 
he supposed that it was only a small party, who would burn 
and plunder and retreat hastily. But he was soon unde- 
ceived. His force was much larger than the English on the 
heights, but inferior in efficiency and courage. The Eng- 
lish were strengthening themselves, and Montcalm made 
desperate eff'orts to dislodge them. By Wolfe's orders, his 
men did not fire until the French came within forty yards. 
Then they mowed them down. 

Victory — Death of Wolfe. — The contest became desperate. 
Men and officers fell on both sides. Montcalm's second in 
command was killed, and he himself wounded, but he 
seemed to be everywhere cheering on his men. On the 
English side, Carleton, Barre, and Wolfe had all been shot. 
Wolfe bound up liis bleeding hand, placed himself at the 
head of two regiments, and led a bayonet charge. The 
French gave way before the shining steel, when Wolfe was 
struck down by a bullet through his lungs. As he lay dying 
on the field, the officer who was holding his head cried out, 
"They fly! they fly!" "Who fly?" whispered the hero. 
" The French ! the French ! " answered the officer. " God 
be praised," gasped Wolfe; "I die happy," and his spirit 




132 History of the United States. 

passed from earth in the very moment of his victory, the 

greatness of which he did not know. 

Surrender of the City. — The Marquis de Montcalm had 

also received his death wound in the battle. The surgeon 
told him he had only a few hours to live. 
"So much the better," was his reply. "I 
shall not live to see the surrender of 
Quebec." In a day or two, this surrender 
was formally made, and the French do- 
minion in America, "New France," came 
to an end. France made some ineffectual 
efforts to regain her power, but within a 
„„„ , few months surrendered the whole of 

MONTCALM. 

Canada. 

Monument to Wolfe and Montcalm. — There stands now 
upon the Heights of Abraham a granite monument sixty 
feet high, which bears on one face an inscription in memory 
of General Wolfe, and on the other, one to his gallant 
enemy, the Marquis de Montcalm. 

England Everywhere Victorious. — There was great exulta- 
tion in the colonies at the fall of the French power along 
their borders. England also rejoiced over the success of 
her arms, while she mourned for the gallant young Wolfe. 
Victory attended her everywhere. France and Spain both 
desired peace. Pitt and George the II. felt the same wish. 
But before the treaty could be arranged, the old king died 
suddenly, and was succeeded by his grandson, George III., 
whose reign was to be most memorable in the history of our 
country. 

Treaty of Paris. — It was not until three years later, in 
1763, that the " Seven Years' War" came to an end by the 
treaty of Paris. Under this treaty England gained the 
Floridas from Spain, and all of North America, east of the 
Mississippi, held by France. France ceded to Spain, in 
place of Florida, her possessions west of the Mississippi, 
together with the island on which the city of New Orleans 
stood. 

Important Results of Colonial War. — During the continu- 
ance of this colonial war the colonies had suffered 
much and had lost thirty thousand men and eleven mil- 
lions of dollars, but the people had learned self-reliance. 



Indian Wars. 133 

Their officers and soldiers had acquired a knowledge of 
the discipline and tactics of the British army, had 
found themselves often superior to the regulars, and had 
gained immensely in experience and ideas of self-govern- 
ment, which were before many years to bear important 
fruits. 

AUTHORITIES.— Bancroft's History of the United States, Vol. IV. ; Hildreth's His- 
tory of the United States, Vol. II.; Fiske's Beginnings of New England; Campbell's 
History of Virginia; Irving's Life of Washington; Winsor's Narrative and Critical 
History of the United States, Vol. V.; Thackeray's Virginians. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. Describe Braddock's journey through the woods. 2. The 
ambush. 3. The defeat. 4. Who buried General Braddock ? 5. Where 
were the English victorious ? 6. What war was going on in Europe at this 
time ? 7. Who were successful in New York ? 8. Who now became prime 
minister in England ? I). For whom is Pittsburg named? 10. What is tlie 
situation of Quebec ? 11. Who was sent against it ? 12. Give the character 
of Wolfe. 18. Tell of the ascent of the Heights of Abraham. 14. Describe 
the first attack and the victory. 15. Who was killed ? 16. Tell of the death 
of Montcalm, and of the monument. 17. What did the treaty of Paris give to 
the English? 18. What were the results of the war? 19. Where are the 
forts and battle-fields of this war ? 



CHAPTER XXII. 

INDIAN WARS. 

The fifteen years which followed the surrender of Canada 
to the English were undisturbed by war, except with the 
Indians. 

Lyttleton's War on the Cherokees. — While the northern 
colonies were engaged in the final struggle with France, 
Governor Lyttleton had begun a cruel and apparently 
unnecessary conflict with the Cherokee Indians, on the west- 
ern borders of the Carolinas. They dwelt in that region 
among fertile valleys, sparkling streams and high mountains, 
had always shown themselves friendly to the whites, and 
had several times assisted them against other Indians. For 
some offence, real or imaginary, Lyttleton declared war upon 
them, and proceeded to attack them, killing and capturing 
the warriors, and burning their villages. At first the 
Cherokee chiefs sought for peace, but, when once their 
wrath was aroused, they fought with all the savage craft 



134 



History of the United States. 



and cruelty of their race. The governor of Georgia, more 
prudent and forbearing, made friends with the Creeks, and 
so protected his frontiers from outrage. 

Pontiac's War. — The northwestern Indians, who had 
always been friendly to the French, saw with dislike and 
indignation the French forts fall one by one into the power 
of the English, whom they hated. A conspiracy to destroy 
the English seems to have been begun among the Iroquois 
and Senecas, and to have spread from them throughout the 
west and northwest. For two years the plotting and plan- 
ning went on, and at last, in 1763, broke out in what is 
known as Pontiar-'s wnv, because the gigantic Pontiac, chief 

of the Ottawas, be- 
came the leading 
spirit in the great up- 
rising. Pontiac was 
greater in sagacity 
and intelligence, more 
fertile in resources, 
and more persevering 
in carrying out his 
plans, than the In- 
dians generally were. 
This war raged for 
two years. Most of 
the forts which the 
English had garri- 
soned in the western 
wilderness were cap- 
tured, and their de- 
fenders massacred with the most savage cruelty. All along 
the frontiers, in Pennsylvania especially, the settlers were 
butchered and tortured with fiendish atrocities. 

Bouquet's Victory, 1764. — In 1764, Colonel Henry Bouquet, 
a Swiss officer who had taken active part in the previous 
wars with Indians and understood their character and mode 
of fighting, being put in command, collected a sufficient 
force to march to the defence of western Pennsylvania and 
the Ohio Valley. At Bushy Run he encountered a large 
body of Indian warriors who were anxious to capture 
Fort Pitt. A bloody battle was fought, in which Bou- 




SETTLEB'S CABIN. 



Indian Wars. 



135 



quet won the most decisive victory ever gained over the red 

men. 

End of the War .-Their defeat broke the spirit of Pontiac's 

confederacy. They made treaties of peace, and gave up two 
hundred white captives. Pontiac would 
not give up the struggle at first, but find- 
ing further resistance hopeless, sued for 
peace. He was murdered a few years 
later in a drunken brawl at Cahokia. 

Emigration Beyond the AUeghanies. — 
For ten years after this, Sir William John- 
son managed aff'airs so well with the In- 
dians that there was peace along the bor- 
BooNE. ders, and a steady stream of emigration 

began to move beyond the Alleghany Mountains into what 

are now the States of Kentucky and Tennessee. 




V/':<i # 



AUTHORITIES.— Bancroft's History of the United States, Vol. IV.; Winsor's Nar- 
rative and Critical History of the United States, Vol. V.; Hildreth'a History of 
the United states, Vol. II.; Ramsay's History of South Carolina; Fiske's History of 
the United states, chap. IX. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. What wars occurred between 1750 and 1775? 2. On 
what Indians did Governor Lyttleton make war? 3. Tell of it. 4. What 
caused Pontiac's War ? 5. How long did it last? 6. Who put an end to it ? 
7. What became of the Indian leader Pontiac ? 8. What States now began 
to be settled ? 9. Where are they ? 



SUMMARY FOR REVIEWS AND ESSAYS. 



THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS, 1689-1763. 
Chapters 16-22. 



King William's War : 

Beginning of the war of 1689, 100. 

French and Indian attacks, 1689, 100. 

Escape of Mrs. Dustin, 101. 

Resistance of New England, 101. 

Peace of Ryswick, 1697, 101. 
Queen Anne's War, 1703-1713: 

Queen Anne's war, 1703, 103. 

Indian war in North Carolina, 102. 

Indian atrocities, 102. 

Peace of Utrecht, 1713, 103. 

French strength in the west, 102. 

Condition of the central colonies, 103. 

Queen Anne as a slave-carrier, 103. 
Virginia under Govei'nor Spotswood : 

Governor Spotswood in Virginia, 105. 

Teach, or Blackbeard, 105. 

Governor Spotswood's iron furnaces in 1714, 106. 

The Alleghany Mountains, 106. 

Expedition across the Blue Ridge, 1716, 106. 

Valley of Virginia taken by the " Knights of the Golden Horseshoe," 107. 

Spotswood displaced by the council, 108. 

Power of the council, 108. 

Colonial postal system, 108. 

Prosperity of Virginia, 108. 

How the planters lived, 109. 
Settlement of Georgia : 

James Edward Oglethorpe, 110. 

Settlement at Savannah, 1733, 111. 

City of Savannah, 111, 

Treaties with Indians, 112. 

Salzburger settlement, 113. 

Scotch in Darien, 113. * 

Slavery and rum prohibited, 113. 

The Wesleys and Whitefield, 113. 

Preparations for war with Spaniards, 114. 

Attack on St. Augustine, 114. 

Fleet before Savannah, 115. 

Death of Oglethorpe, 115. 

Georgia becomes a royal province, 1753, 115. 

King George's War : 

King George's War, 116. 

Indians sell the northwest to Virginia, 1744, 116. 
War in New England, 116. 
Capture of Louisburg ; peace, 1748, 116. 

[136] 



Summary for Reviews and Essays. 137 

Indian Wars — Conti fined: 

South Carolina becomes a royal i)roviuce, 105. 
Indian fighting in Maine, 109. 
Lyttleton's war on the Cherokees, 133. 
Pontiac's war, 134. 
Bouquet's victory, 1764, 134. 
End of the war, 135. 

Advance of the colonies : 

Growth of population, 1688-1714, 104. 

Peace in George I.'s reign, 104. 

Steady advance of the colonies, 110. 

Steady improvement, 116. 

First newspaper, 117. 

Printing in Virginia; foundation of Baltimore and Richmond, 117. 

Benjamin Franklin; George Washington 117. 

Settlement of the Valley of Virginia, 1732, 118. 

Sailing's exploration, 119. 

Daniel Burden in Rockbridge Comity, 119. 

Scotch-Irish settlers, 119. 

Religious toleration, 120. 

Germans in the Valley, 1745, 120. 

George Washington, the young surveyor. 130. 

Grant to the Ohio company of Virginians, 1749, 123. 

Emigration beyond the Alleghanies, 135. 

I'he Colonial War : 

The French in the west and north, 121. 

French claims to the Ohio, 121. 

Resistance to the French claims, 122. 

Cause of the Colonial War, 123. 

Washington's embassy to the French, 124. 

Homeward journey, 1753, 125. 

Result of the embassy, 125. 

Fort at Pittsburg captured by the French ; recaptured by Washington, 125. 

Defeat at Great Meadows, 1754, 126. 

Return to Virginia, 126. 

Braddock's coming and plan of the war, 126. 

Exile of the Acadians, 127. 

Braddock's journey, 1755, 128. 

Tb8 ambush, 128. 

Braddock's defeat, 128. 

Washington's bravery, 128. 

Victory at Lake George, 128. 

Seven Years' War in Europe, 129. 

French successes in New York, 129. 

English successes, 129. 

Pittsburg, 130. 

Situation of Quebec, 1758, 130. 

Wolfe's efforts against Quebec, 130. 

Character of Wolfe, 130. 

Climbing the Heights of Abraham, 131. 

First attack, 131. 

Victory; death of Wolfe, 131. 

Surrender of the city, 132. 

Monument to Wolfe and ]\Iontcalm, 1-33. 

England everywhere victorious, 132. 

Treaty of Paris, 132. 

Important results of Colonial War, 133. 



THE REVOLUTION, 1763-1783. 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

CAUSES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. 

The American Revolution, the Next War. — When war 

next appeared in the colonies, it was not with the Indians 
or against foreign nations, but it was the great struggle for 
freedom on the part of the colonies — the war of the Amer- 
ican Revolution. Before we begin the story of this war we 
must understand the causes which led to it, and the condi- 
tion of the Americans when they entered upon it. 

Colonies Strenuous for Their Rights. — You have seen 
how the colonists in the early days of their history, espe- 
ciall}^ in Virginia and Massachusetts, insisted on their 
right to choose their own law-makers, to regulate their own 
affairs, and particularly to lay their own taxes, and to say 
how the money they raised should be spent. They had 
been hampered and oppressed by the navigation laws, which 
forbade them to engage in trade except as it put money into 
English pockets. Their manufactures had been restricted 
and prevented as far as possible. In New England, the 
Church of England which they hated, had been imposed 
upon the descendants of the Puritans, and even in Virginia 
the loyal churchmen had stoutly to resist the claim made 
by the government to place over them clergymen who 
might not be to their taste. 

England's Desire to Tax the Colonies. — During the years 
when England was engaged in continual war with her 
neighbors in Europe, there was neither leisure nor troops 
for her to enforce many of the rights she claimed over the 
colonies; and the Americans gathered up their local gov- 
ernments very much into their own hands, and frequently 
carried their points in the perpetual strife between the 
assemblies elected by the people and the governors ap- 
pointed by the crown. But, even during this period, as the 
colonies were constantly growing stronger and more pros- 
perous, it was a favorite project with the governors and 
commissioners sent from England to extract a revenue from 

[ 138 ] 



Causes of the American Revolution. 139 

them by a system of special taxation. Some of them ad- 
vised a poll-tax, or a tax on every man's head, others pro- 
posed a tax on the land ; but all agreed that England 
should tax the colonies in some way. When the war closed 
in 1763, England was everywhere victorious; but she was 
tremendously in debt, and was therefore not averse to the 
scheme of raising money in America, where she had spent 
a great deal to establish her power and drive out the French. 

The First Cause of Hostility. — This project for taxing the 
Americans was sure to provoke resistance whenever it 
should be attempted. But it was not the first cause for hos- 
tility between the colonies and the mother country. Strange 
to say, the first difficulty arose in Virginia between the peo- 
ple and the clergy, and its settlement involved a direct re- 
sistance to the king of England, though the Virginians 
were really loyal subjects to his Majesty, while they never 
loved the Parliament. 

Two-Penny Act. — You have seen that tobacco was the 
currency in Virginia for many years, and that the clergy- 
men were paid for their services in tobacco. The tobacco 
crop in the year 1758 failed, and there was great distress for 
want of means. The assembly passed a law that debts in 
tobacco should be paid in money, at two-pence a pound, the 
value when the salaries of the clergy were fixed. Now to- 
bacco was worth in the market more than six-pence a pound, 
but there was very little of it, and the people really could not 
raise the money to pay what was owing at that price. This 
change in the payment of their salaries bore heavily on the 
clergymen, and some of them appealed to the crown for re- 
dress. King George III. had a great idea of his " pre- 
rogative," or right to govern the colonies as he pleased, and 
he declared the "Two-Penny Act" to be no law at all. 
Several clergymen then brought suit against the vestries for 
the whole salary they claimed; and the assembly determined 
to stand by the vestries. 

Patrick Henry. — The most famous of these suits, " The 
Parsons Cause," was brought in Hanover County, Virginia, 
and argued by a young lawyer until then unknown, but who 
became one of the most famous and influential men of his time. 
Patrick Henry was the son of a gentleman of small means 
and large family in Hanover County. The boy was edu- 



140 History of the United States. 

cated principally by his own father, who was a good classi- 
cal scholar and taught him Latin, a little Greek, and some 
mathematics. He could not have gone very far in his school- 
ing, for at fifteen years of age he was put into a store to learn 
how to be a merchant. If he did not become a financier he 
studied human nature behind the counter, and no doubt 
read what books he could get. As he could not indulge 
his passion for hunting, he learned to play on the flute and 
violin. Before he was twenty he married and tried several 
ways of making a living — first farming, then storekeeping 
again. He next studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 
1760. 

The " Parsons Cause," 1763.~AVhen the suit, afterwards 
so famous — was brought against the vestry of an adjoining 
parish for the salary of the Reverend James Maury, the 
vestry engaged young Henry to defend their cause. Patrick 
Henry persuaded his uncle, who was rector of the parish in 
Hanover, to go away, as his feelings might be hurt if hard 
things were said of the clergy. The presiding justice of the 
court was the young lawyer's own father. There was a spe- 
cial jury and a great crowd assembled. Young Henry 
arose, awkward, ungainly-looking, and embarrassed. But 
he soon warmed to his subject, and in a little while the 
audience felt that one of the great orators of the time 
stood before them. He defended the rights of the people to 
make their own laws; claimed their privilege as English- 
men to regulate their money matters; and spoke so freely of 
the king's injustice in interfering with them that he was 
even accused of treason. So powerful was his reasoning 
and so magnetic his eloquence, that the jury at once decided 
in his favor by giving the plaintiff only one penny by way 
of damages. The crowd took Henry on their shoulders 
and .carried him out, amid shouts of applause; and this 
speech and the decision against the king's will has been 
looked upon as the beginning of the revolution against the 
authority of England. You must notice that this was 
mainly a question of principle which the Virginians were 
contending for, and you will see as you go on how stoutly 
they resisted what they considered a trampling on their 
rights, even though there was very little suffering caused 
by it. 



Causes of the American Revolution. 141 

"Writs of Assistance." — In New England the people 
really experienced great hardships and loss from the 
revival of the navigation laws, which hindered their 
trade, broke up their fisheries, and produced much pov- 
erty among them. To prevent these laws being eluded, as 
they had practically been for a long time, the courts were 
directed by the English government to issue " writs of 
assistance," under which the revenue officers could call on 
any one to assist them in searching for smuggled goods, 
and in bringing the offenders to justice. Suit was brought 
against these writs as early as 1760, and the cause of the 
people and the injustice of the laws were powerfully 
urged by James Otis. But the court decided against him 
and issued the obnoxious " writs." 

Higher Taxes. — The arbitrary acts of Parliament in- 
creased. Higher duties were laid on many things, and 
especially on sugar and molasses, which were the principal 
articles which New England brought from the West Indies 
in exchange for fish and lumber. After using as much 
as they could of the molasses, the rest was manufactured 
into rum, which, in its turn, became an important export. 

"Sons of Liberty." — While New England was greatly 
excited by the injury done to her commerce, new duties 
were advocated in Parliament, also a Stamp Act, which 
proved especially irritating to the colonies. When this act 
was brought into Parliament it was strongly opposed. 
Isaac Barre, who had been with AVolfe at Louisburg and 
Quebec, made a strong protest against it, in which he spoke 
of the Americans as "sons of liberty," a name which was at 
once adopted by the colonists as especially appropriate to 
their views and intentions. 

The Stamp Act, 1765. — The Stamp Act compelled all 
bills, receipts, licenses, wills, deeds, and bonds, — all papers, 
indeed, necessary in carrying on business — to be written on 
stamped paper, for which a high price had to be paid. 

Opposition to Stamp Act. — Boston was the principal port 
in Massachusetts, and opposition to the oppressive revenue 
and navigation laws naturally began there. The Stamp Act 
was equally objectionable to all the colonies, and the first 
opposition to it after its passage came from the Virginia As- 
sembly, where Patrick Henry brought in five resolutions, 




142 History of the United States. 

declaring that the Virginians had always been entitled to 
all the rights and privileges of Englishmen; that these 
rights had been confirmed to them by the royal charters; 
that the taxation of the people by themselves was the dis- 
tinguishing feature of British freedom; that this right had 
always been exercised by the Virginians; 
and, finally, that the general assembly of the 
colony alone had the right to impose taxes 
upon the colony, and that any attempt to do 
so by any other person or persons was calcu- 
lated to destroy not only American, but even 
i British freedom. There was a hot debate 
over these resolutions, especially the last, but 
"^ they were all carried by a small majority, 
under the influence of Patrick Henry's fiery 
eloquence. No report was kept of his speech, which Thomas 
Jefferson, then a student at William and Mary, declared to 
be most wonderful. In its course the speaker said, "Csesar 
had his Brutus; Charles I. his Cromwell; and George III." — 
"Treason, Treason," cried out his opponents. The orator 
paused, looked the speaker of the house calmly in the eyes, 
and finished his sentence: "may profit by their example. 
If this be treason make the most of it." 

Congress of Colonies, 1765. — In October a colonial congress 
called together by Massachusetts met in New York to con- 
sider what was to be done to resist the Stamp Act, and pre- 
serve the liberties of the colonies. Virginia, North Caro- 
lina, Georgia, and New Hampshire sent no representatives — 
Virginia, because her governor would not allow the assem- 
bly to meet. But South Carolina, influenced by the wise 
and patriotic Christopher Gadsden, was prompt to meet the 
call, and enroll herself on the side of liberty. Georgia sent 
a message to assure the meeting of her sympathy, as did 
New Hampshire ; while the assembly of North Carolina 
passed resolutions declaring sympathy with the move- 
ment. 

Taxation without Representation. — The congress denied 
the right of Parliament to tax them so long as they remained 
unrepresented, and sent petitions to the king and Commons. 
The four absent colonies presented similar petitions. It is 
worth remembering that the men who drew up the petition 



Causes of the American Revolution. 143 

from Virginia were some of those who had opposed Patrick 
Henry's resolutions some months before. 

Stamp Act Repealed. — The execution of the Stamp Act 
was opposed everywhere, and the persons who had under- 
taken to distribute the stamps were forced to resign or had 
ill-treatment and obloquy heaped upon them. In Boston a 
serious riot occurred. Parliament, finding so great opposi- 
tion to the Act and so much difficulty in enforcing it, 
repealed it the next year, but, at the same time, de- 
clared that the king, with the advice of Parliament, had 
a right to make what laws he pleased, especially for the col- 
onies. As this right was soon exercised in oppressive 
measures, the Americans, who had hitherto attributed all 
their grievances to the unwarranted interference of Par- 
liament, were driven to oppose the power of the king 
himself. 

Boston Massacre, 1770. — Boston showed so resolute a 
spirit to resist the revenue laws that, in 1770, a collision 
took place between the citizens and British soldiers quar- 
tered there to enforce the laws, in which two Bostonians 
were killed and others mortally wounded. The news of 
this "Boston massacre," as it was called, spread all over the 
country, and everywhere stirred up strong feelings of re- 
sistance to British tyranny. But, in fact, the soldiers only 
fired into the mob to preserve their own lives, and were not 
very much to blame. 

Committees of Correspondence. — In 1772, a revenue 
vessel, the Gaspee, ran aground while trying to catch a 
packet from Providence. A band of Rhode Islanders 
boarded the Gaspee at night and burned her. The officers 
of the crown demanded that the governor of Rhode Island 
should arrest the off'enders and send them to England for 
trial. This order was not complied with, but the making of 
it was considered the greatest outrage yet committed upon 
American liberties, and the patriots of the Virginia assembly 
at once determined to organize a committee of correspond- 
ence with the other colonies on the subject of the preserva- 
tion of their liberties. Dabney Carr was selected to make 
the motion. The resolutions off'ered by Carr were adopted 
unanimously by the assembly. The other colonies followed 
Virginia's example, and thus the way was prepared for the 



144 History of the United States. 

first Colonial Congress, which met at Philadelphia the next 
year, 1774, on the proposal of Virginia. 

The Tea Party. — Before this the colonists had passed laws 
forbidding the importation of food from England, so as to 
cut off the revenue hoped for from that source, and Eng- 
land suffered great loss in consequence. Parliament then 
repealed the revenue laws, except in regard to tea which 
was to be sent to America in large quantities. The colonists 
determined that they would buy no tea, and that none of it 
should be landed on American shores, and when first one, 
then another ship laden with tea sailed into Boston harbor, 
a large company of men disguised as Indians boarded the 
ships in the night and threw overboard the valuable car- 
goes worth ninety thousand dollars. 

Rousing of the Colonies. — In revenge Parliament closed 
the port of Boston, and ordered all ships to go to Salem 
instead. Indignation blazed up all over the colonies. 
Sympathy and help were proffered the citizens of Boston 
from every other colony, and the committees of corres- 
pondence drew the people so closely together that the 
assembling of Congress which followed was the expression 
of the feeling that they must act in concert in the crisis 
which seemed close upon them. 

AUTHORITIES.— Bancroft's History of the United States, Vols. IV., V. VI.; Hil- 
dreth's History of the United States, Vols. II., III.,; Winsor's Narrative and Critical 
History of the United States, Vols. V., VI. ; Williamson's History of North Carolina; 
William Wirt Henry's Life of Patrick Henry; Campbell's History of Virginia; Irving's 
Life of Washington; Rowland's Memoir of George Mason; Ramsay's History of 
South Carolina. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. What was the next war in America? 2. Did the colo- 
nies lilse to submit to England ? 3. What plan did England now have for 
America ? 4. What was the first cause of hostility ? 5. Tell about the Two- 
Penny Act. 6. Give a sketch of Patrick Henry's early life. 7. What was the 
" Parsons Cause,'' and the result of it? 8. Tell of the first resistance in New 
England. 9. Higher duties on imports. 10. Who called the colonists " Sons 
of Liberty"? 11. What was the Stamp Act ? 12. Tell of the opposition to it, 
and of Patrick Henry's speech in 1765. 13. When was the first congress of the 
colonies? 14. What was then declared ? 15. Was the Stamp Act enforced or 
repealed? 16. Did the English give up their right to tax the colonies? 
17. Tell of the Boston massacre, the burning of the Gaspee, and the commit- 
tees of correspondence. 18. " The Boston Tea-Party,' and the rousirf^ of the 
colonies. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

THE COLONIES IN 1760-75— SETTLEMENT OF KENTUCKY 
AND TENNESSEE. 

Condition of the Colonies. — The colonies were in much 
better condition for undertaking a struggle with the mother 
country than they had been at any time previous. Their 
population had grown to nearly three millions. Of this 
number, about five hundred thousand were negro slaves, 
who were to be found in all the colonies, though by far the 
greater number were south of the Potomac. Virginia and 
South Carolina, with their staples of tobacco and rice, had 
more than their neighbors. 

Education. — Notwithstanding the wars with the Indians 
and the French, the ever growing dissatisfaction with Eng- 
land which showed itself in perpetual dissensions between 
the colonists and their English governors, and unfavorable 
seasons, the prosperity of the country had increased as 
steadily as the population. This is shown by the advance 
in material civilization and the wider difi'usion of learning 
and literature. To the three colleges existing at the begin- 
ning of the century, had been added six others. Two, Dart- 
mouth and Brown University, in New England, Columbia 
in New York, Princeton and Rutgers in New Jersey, and 
the University of Pennsylvania. Smaller schools were also 
established in many places. Of these, Liberty Hall Academy, 
founded by the Scotch-Irish settlers of the Valley of Vir- 
ginia, between Staunton and Lexington, is worthy of special 
mention, both on account of the part it played during the 
Revolution and the notable names with which it was after- 
wards associated. 

Franklin's Discoveries — Newspapers. — Dr. Franklin, who 
had been for years an agent for the colonies of Massachu- 
setts and Maryland in England, had increased the comfort 
of the world by inventing the Franklin stove, and had dis- 
covered that the lightning in the clouds was electricity. 
The newspapers published in 1776 were thirty-seven in 
number, against nine of twenty years before. Dr. Frank- 
10 [ 145 ] 




146 History of the United States. 

lin, as postmaster-general of the colonies for nearly twenty 
years from 1753, had greatly improved the postal service, 
and though we should think it quite a 
hardship now to have a mail only once a 
week, or, in remote places, once in a month, 
it was far hetter than to depend on chance 
comers for any transmission of news. The 
provincial papers were looked for eagerly 
in all parts of the colonies, and did a great 
deal to animate and foster the growing- 
spirit of independence. By letting the 
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, peoplc know what patriotic citizens were 
saying and doing in other places, they also contributed no 
little to prepare the way for their uniting in effort when the 
time came. 

The Printing' Press. — The printing press was everywhere 
called on to give to the people at large the thoughts and 
arguments of the earnest and anxious men who saw that a 
crisis in the affairs of the country was coming rapidly on. 
This was especially the case in Virginia. Richard Bland, 
in 1766, published at Williamsburg "An Inquiry into the 
Rights of the British Colonies," which was followed by 
other pamphlets and papers by the leading patriots of that 
colony. 

Social Conditions. — The social condition of the people 
was not very different from what it had been, except that 
they had all grown to be more alike in thought and feeling. 
In the northern colonies, the distinction between the classes 
of society was as marked as in the South, though based on 
somewhat different foundations. Only ministers and mag- 
istrates and their sons, if educated at college, were allowed 
to be called " Mister," and sometimes a man was punished 
for misconduct by having this title formally taken from 
him. " Goodman " and " Goody " were the usual appella- 
tions of the plainer people. 

Life Among the Rich. — The rich, everywhere, were build- 
ing fine houses, with great halls and galleries, like those of 
their English ancestors. The northern colonists made their 
homes principally in or near the towns, while, at the south, 
the planters preferred to live in the country, surrounded by 
their broad acres and their slaves. In South Carolina, the 



The Colonies in 1760-75, 



147 



Huguenots built houses like the chateaux of their French 
forefathers, and some of these stately mansions were still 
standing a few years ago. These fine houses, all over the 
colonies, were furnished with European luxury. Their 
owners on great occasions drove out in fine coaches; or, 
dressed in French satins and velvets and English lace and 
jewels, received company; while their sideboards displayed 
fine stores of china, glass, and plate. The estates surround- 

I 




COLONIAL MANSION. 



ing these stately homes were like small principalities. The 
negroes were trained to be excellent carpenters, blacksmiths, 
wagon-makers; they spun and wove; were fairly good tailors 
and shoemakers; and, where their location allowed, ran 
grist and saw-mills for their masters, besides cultivating the 
fields and gardens with skill. In fact, except the luxuries 
at the "great house," every necessary for keeping up the 
plantation was manufactured within its own gates. 

Life Among the Middle Classes. — The middle classes lived 
more plainly, but in great comfort, with their substantial 
houses of hewn logs or of stone, furnished with home-made 
chairs and tables, with wooden and pewter plates and dishes; 
and wearing apparel spun, woven and made up by their 
wives and daughters. But when the days of trials came, 
the elegant gentleman and his stately wife with their silk 
attire and costly furnishings, were just as prompt to sign 
the non-importation acts, and pledge themselves to use 
nothing that could not be made at home, as were the poorest 
and most hard-working of their neighbors, 



148 History of the United States. 

Non-Importation Acts. — These non-importation agree- 
ments included not only wine, tea, silks, broadcloths, laces, 
china, plate, and other articles of luxury, but they laid spe- 
cial stress on the prohibition of the further importation of ne- 
gro slaves. Indeed, the crowding of the country with igno- 
rant Africans had long been felt to be an injury and imposi- 
tion by the colonies. Boston, in 1701, and some parties 
in Pennsylvania eleven years later, had made a protest 
against negro slavery, but nothing was really done in Mas- 
sachusetts to prevent it; and, in Pennsylvania, the assem- 
bly decided "that it was neither just nor convenient to set 
the negroes at liberty." The English government, from the 
days of Queen Anne, had constantly promoted and insisted 
upon the importation of negroes into the colonies, and dis- 
countenanced every attempt to limit or prevent it. 

Opposition to Slavery. — The first earnest opposition to 
slavery came from the southern colonies of South Caro- 
lina and A^irginia, where there were more slaves, and, con- 
sequently, more wealth and leisure for their owners. In 
1760, the assembly of South Carolina made laws restricting 
the bringing in of more slaves. This act was rebuked and 
set aside in England. The next year, it was proposed in the 
Virginia assembly to impose such a heavy duty upon every 
slave brought into Virginia that their importation would be 
practically suppressed. In support of this law, Richard 
Henry Lee made the first of his forcible and eloquent speeches. 
The law was passed by the majority of one vote, but England 
promptly declared it void. The governors of the colonies 
were instructed not to permit any restrictions upon the slave 
trade, and one of the English ministers declared that no in- 
terference could be allowed " with a traffic so beneficial 
to the nation." This was another cause of the increasing 
alienation of the Americans from the English government. 

Emigration to Tennessee. — From the close of Pontiac's 
war, and the consequent cessation of open Indian warfare 
along the western borders of the colonies, a slow but steady 
stream of emigration had set from Pennsylvania down 
through the valleys lying west of the Alleghany Mountains 
in Virginia, which gradually extended itself towards the 
west and south. This was composed of a sturdy, bold, ad- 
venturous race of American birth, sprung chiefly from the 



The Colonies in 1760-15. 



149 



Scotch-Irish Presbyterians, but containing also a mixture of 
German, Huguenot, and English blood. Whatever was their 
ancestry, the children born and reared along the western 
borders of the colonies, the fearless, independent " back- 
woodsmen," during this period of comparative quiet, took 
possession of the great tracts of territory lying between the 
mountains and the Mississippi, meeting the Indians on their 
own hunting grounds with cunning, skill, and fortitude 
equal to that of the red man, and with almost as much mer- 
ciless cruelty. 

Counties of Botetourt and Fincastle. — As the set- 
tlers moved southwestwardly down the Valley of Virginia, 
that region was set off into the counties of Botetourt and 
Fincastle, which, extending to the Mississippi, included all 
the territory toward the west claimed by Virginia. Ken- 
tucky was as yet an unknown country, visited only by a 
stray hunter or trader. 
Daniel Boone in Kentucky, 1769. — In 1769, Daniel Boone, 

who had come as a lad from 
Pennsylvania to the banks 
of the Yadkin in North Car- 
olina, went with a party of 
five or six other men to ex- 
plore the unknown region 





BOONE'S FORT. 

beyond the lofty moun- 
tains. For six months 
they hunted unmolested. 
Then the Indians at- 
tacked them, captured 
Boone and one other, 
and either killed or drove 
off the rest. Boone and 
his friend escaped, and 
before long were joined 
by one of Boone's broth- 
ers, who with one other hunter had traversed the wild 



C;^y# 



BOONE'S DAUGHTER SEIZED BT THE INDIANS, 
(AFTERWARDS RESCUED.) 



150 History of the United States. 

rugged way from the settlements. The other men fell 
victims to the Indians, and the two Boones remained 
all the winter, hundreds of miles from any white man. 
There were no Indian settlements in Kentucky, but every 
Indian who came to the hunting-ground was an unrelent- 
ing and treacherous foe. In the spring, Samuel Boone 
returned to the settlements for ammunition and horses, and 
for three months Daniel Boone remained entirely alone in 
the wild country with no companion but his rifle. When 
Samuel returned, other adventurers came with him, and 
bands of explorers and hunters from other places came into 
the land, which was becoming famous for the abundance of 
game. Some of these hunters remained so long in the wil- 
derness that they obtained the name of " The Long Hunters." 

Settlement of Kentucky, 1771. — Daniel Boone himself 
did not return to his home on the Yadkin for two years, 
and, before a great while, he moved his own family and 
several others out to Kentucky, where he built a stockade 
fort and established a settlement at what has ever since 
been called Boonesborough. 

Watauga Settlement, Tennessee, 1769. — Settlements were 
also growing up along the headwaters of the Clinch and 
Holston Rivers, and in the same year that Boone went to 
Kentucky, a whole community, leaving their homes in cen- 
tral North Carolina, where they were oppressed and harassed 
by an arbitrary governor, passed beyond the mountains 
and established themselves in the fertile valleys of the 
Watauga and Nolichucky Rivers, in what is now the State of 
Tennessee. Idle, vicious, turbulent men had come to the 
new country along with the industrious, honest, worthy 
pioneers, who had brought their families and their little 
all into the wilderness to carve out new homes for them- 
selves. They were too far from other settlements to hope 
for any protection to virtue or punishment to lawless- 
ness. It, therefore, became necessary for them to devise 
some plan of government for themselves. This they accord- 
ingly did, under the guidance and influence of James Robert- 
son and John Sevier, both natives of Virginia, and both 
under thirt}^ 3^ears of age. 

Robertson and Sevier. — Robertson was wholly without 
early education, as he learned to read and write from his 



First Continental Congress. 151 

wife, but he had a fine intellect, a masterful character, and 
was a born leader of men. Sevier, of Huguenot origin, was 
highly educated and accomplished, and especially noted for 
his handsome appearance. Together they drew up a writ- 
ten constitution, the first in America, and established courts 
of justice and other machinery of an organized government. 
For six years the Watauga settlement prospered under its 
own independent form of government, until it became part 
of Washington County, North Carolina. 

Friendly Intercourse Between the Settlements. — Between 
these settlements and those first made in Kentucky, there 
was some inter-communication. Their fighting men came 
to each other's aid against the Shawnees in the prairie 
country, and against the Cherokees among the mountains; 
and we shall see that they performed an important part in 
the dark days of the Revolution. 

AUTHORITIES— Bancroft'3 History of the United States, Vols. IV., V., VI.; Hil- 
dreth's History of the United States, Vols, II., III.: Winsor's Narrative and Critical 
History of the United States, Vols. V.. VI. ; Williamson's History of North Carolina; 
Roosevelt's Winning of the West; William Wirt Henry's Life of Patrick Henry; 
Campbell's History of Virginia; Irving's Life of Washington; Rowland's Memoir of 
George Mason. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. Describe the colonies in 1760-1775. 2. Advance in civi- 
lization and education. 3. Who was postmaster-general in 1753-1773? 
4. Tell of the newspapers. 5. The printing press, and Bland's book in 1766. 
6. Describe the social conditions at the North ; life among the rich planters, 
and the middle classes. 7. What were the non-importation acts? 8. How 
was England mijust about slavery ? 9. Tell of the emigration to the west- 
ward. 10. The extent of Botetourt and Fincastle counties. 11. The story of 
Daniel Boone. 13. Settlement of Kentucky. 13. Of the Watauga settlement. 
14. Where is it now ? 15. Who were Robertson and Sevier? 16. Were the 
settlers in Kentucky and Tennessee friendly with each other, and with the 
Indians? 17. Look up all the places. 



CHAPTER XXV. 

FIRST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS— INDIAN WAR IN VIR- 
GINIA. 

Conventions in Virginia, 1769 and 1774. — The first Rev- 
olutionary convention of Virginia, which made the non-im- 
portation agreement, was called in 1769, when Lord Bote- 
tourt had dissolved the assembly for showing what he con- 



152 



History of the United States. 



sidered a rebellious spirit. When the assembly of 1774 ex- 
pressed its sympathy with Boston, after her port had been 
closed, and set apart a day of fasting and prayer to show 
their sympathy. Lord Dunmore, who had succeeded Bote- 
tourt, came into the house and dissolved it. The burgesses 
at once repaired to the Raleigh Tavern, where they passed 

resolutions con- 
demning t h e 
course England 
had taken, and 
advised that mem- 
bers be elected to 
a convention to 
meet at Williams- 
burg on the 1st 
of August, who 
should then 
choose delegates to 
the "General Con- 
gress" of the colo- 
nies to be held the 
same year. 

The First Conti- 
nental Congress, 
1774._This first 
Continental Con- 
gress met in Phil- 
adelphia in Sep- 
tember, 1774. 
Every colony ex- 
cept Georgia was 
represented. Vir- 
ginia sent seven 
deputies: Peyton 
Randolph, Rich- 
ard Henry Lee, George Washington, Patrick Henry, Richard 
Bland, Benjamin Harrison, and Edmund Pendleton; New 
Hampshire two — John Sullivan and Nathaniel Folsom; Mas- 
sachusetts four — Thomas Gushing, Samuel Adams, John 
Adams, and Robert Treat Paine; Rhode Island two — Stephen 
Hopkins and Samuel Wood; Connecticut four — Eliphalet 




THE THIRTEEN ORIGINAL STATE 



First Continental Congress. 153 

Dyer, Roger Sherman, SamuelJohnson, and Silas Deane; New 
York six — James Duane, John Jay, Philip Livingston, John 
Alsop, Isaac Law, and William Floyd; New Jersey five — 
James Kinsey, William Livingston, John Dehart, Stephen 
Crane, and Richard Smith; Pennsylvania seven — -Joseph 
Galloway, Samuel Rhodes, Thomas Mifflin, Charles Hum- 
phreys,- John Morton, George Ross, and Edward Biddle; 
Delaware three — CaBsar Rodney, Thomas McKean, and 
George Read; Maryland four — Robert Goldsborough, Wil- 
liam Paca, Matthew Tilghman, and Samuel Chase; North 
Carolina two — William Hooper and Joseph Hewes; South 
Carolina four — Henry Middleton, Christopher Gadsden, 
Thomas Lynch, and Edward Rutledge. Peyton Randolph, 
of Virginia, was chosen president; and Charles Thompson, 
of Pennsylvania, secretary. 

Its Decisions. — These members were not all of the same 
opinions, and the consultations and arguments were long 
and earnest. The deliberations were made with closed 
doors, and only their results published. 
Patrick Henry and Richard Henry Lee, of 
Virginia, were conceded to be the most 
powerful speakers, while other members 
were quite as logical, and all equally con- 
cerned to do the wisest thing in the circum- 
stances which surrounded them. Their first 
step was to define their own character, which '' 
they did by voting themselves a congress of '^ 

•' , IT,- , T,- II T 1 RICHAED HENRY LEE. 

separate and distinct political bodies ; and 
then determining that each colony was to be considered 
equal, and have an equal vote. They were not yet ready 
for independence, but hoped to redress their grievances 
under the crown, to which end they addressed a petition to 
the king, while, at the same time, they made a decided 
assertion of the rights of the colonies. 

Three Distinguished Members. — It was the universal 
opinion of the delegates that Patrick Henry was the most 
powerful speaker among them, but when he was questioned 
as to the ability of the members, he said : '^ Mr. Rutledge, 
of South Carolina, is the greatest orator ; but for solid infor- 
mation and sound judgment. Colonel Washington is by far 
the greatest man on the floor." 




154 History of the United States. 

Canada Invited to Join the Colonies. — To curb the spirit 
of the colonies, Parliament had, early in this year, extended 
the boundaries of Canada to the Ohio River and the liead 
of Lake Superior, and had made the Roman Catholic the 
established religion of the province. Along with addresses 
to the people of the colonies, the congress sent one to Can- 
ada, inviting the Canadians to join them in a second con- 
gress to be held the next year. It also advised that com- 
mercial relations with Great Britain should cease until the 
wrongs done to the colonies should be set right. 

The " Minute Men." — Among the obnoxious measures of 
the English Parliament had been the sending to America 
of English troops, which were quartered upon the people 
without their consent, thus keeping " a standing army " 
among them in time of peace. General Gage had been 
stationed in Boston with two British regiments, and had 
afterwards been made the governor of Massachusetts. He 
had called the general court of the colony to meet at Salem 
in September, and then, believing that they would only 
oppose the British measures, forbade them to assemble. 
They, however, came together, declared themselves the con- 
gress of the province, chose John Hancock their president, 
and appointed committees of safety and of supplies. They 
then voted that twelve thousand troops should be at once 
raised and equipped, and that one-fourth of the militia 
should be enlisted as "minute men"; that is, men who 
should be ready to march and fight for their liberties at a 
minute's notice. 

Strife in Virginia. — While this political agitation and 
anxiety disturbed the whole country, Virginia had a bloody 
war within her borders. The boundaries between her terri- 
tory and that of Pennsylvania and North Carolina had 
never been clearly defined towards the west. Difficulties 
arose, especially between the mountaineers in Pennsylvania 
and Virginia, and at one time it seemed as if a war would 
occur between the two colonies; fortunately, strife between 
them was averted. Not so, however, with a threat of Indian 
hostilities. 

Indian War, 1774. — The Indians who dwelt in the country 
along the northern bank of the Ohio, the Shawnees, Mingos, 
and remnants of other tribes, saw with jealous eyes their 




First Continental Congress. 155 

hunting-grounds along the rivers, and their hiding places 
in the narrow valleys between the mountains, gradually 
coming into possession of the white men. 
More than all others, they hated and feared 
the Virginia pioneers — the "Long Knives" — 
and, for ten years, sudden raids and dashes 
by parties of braves, had stirred up their 
hatred and aroused a stern desire for ven- 
geance in the hearts of the backwoodsmen ^'"-*^ 
of Virginia. The leading spirits among 
the Indians were two chiefs. Cornstalk the Shawnee and 
Logan the chief of the Mingos and other tribes. Michael 
Cresap and Greathouse were the two white men who most 
nearly resembled the Indians in cunning, in skill, in their 
peculiar modes of warfare, and in deadly cruelty when their 
anger was aroused. 

Armies for Defence. — In the spring of 1774, an increase 
of Indian outrage caused Connally, Dunmore's agent in 
the west, to call on the frontier men to assemble and de- 
fend themselves. In the various small encounters which 
took place, deadly wrongs were inflicted on both sides. 
Friendly as well as hostile Indians were murdered and 
scalped by the whites, and Logan's whole family was killed 
by Greathouse and some of his evil associates, who first 
made them drunk with rum and then slew them. War now 
broke out fiercely, and so serious was the danger that Lord 
Dunmore issued orders for three thousand men to assemble 
for the defence of the frontier. Half of these were placed 
under command of General Andrew Lewis, while the other 
half were commanded by Dunmore himself. Lewis's force 
was from the counties of Augusta, Botetourt, and Fincastle, 
which comprised all the west and southwest part of Vir- 
ginia. Promptl}'^ the hardy settlers obeyed the summons to 
come to the defence of their brothers. Lewis's army assem- 
bled at the Levels of the Greenbrier River ; the Augusta 
troop being under Colonel Charles Lewis, the general's 
brother, the Botetourt men under Colonel William Fleming, 
and the Fincastle men from the - settlements on the 
New, Holston, Clinch, and Watauga Rivers, under Colonel 
William Christian. With the troop from Watauga came 
Robertson and Sevier. This was a purely American army, 



156 History of the United States. 

with no uniform but their hunting shirts of deerskin or home- 
spun, and armed only with their clumsy rifles and 
muskets: 

Lord Dunmore's Orders. — Lord Dunmore rendezvoused 
his force at Fort Pitt, and gave orders that both armies 
should meet at the mouth of the Great Kanawha River. 
Towards that point, General Lewis pushed on with the Au- 
gusta and Botetourt men, who had a much shorter distance 
to travel than those from Fincastle. Lord Dunmore, how- 
ever, disobe3^ed his own orders. Cornstalk, the Indian 
commander, finding his foes thus divided, determined to 
attack them before they could come together. 

Battle of the Great Kanawha. — Lewis had with him about 
eleven hundred men encamped near the mouth of the Kana- 
wha, when Cornstalk, on the night of the 9th of October, 
noiselessly ferried over the Ohio a thousand Indian war- 
riors. His plan to attack and overpower the Long Knives 
in their sleep was frustrated by some hunters, who discov- 
ered the Indian advance and gave the alarm to Lewis and 
his men. The whites immediately seized their arms, sought 
cover behind trees and rocks, and a most stubborn and 
bloody battle raged until after mid-day. Colonel Lewis and 
Colonel Field were killed. Colonel Fleming was wounded, and 
fourteen other officers were killed or wounded. Still the 
men fought bravely hand to hand with the savages, until, 
under cover of the nightfall, the Indians withdrew across 
the Ohio, leaving their slain in the enemy's hands. 

Result of the Battle. — This was the fiercest and most per- 
sistent battle ever fought between the border fighters and 
the Indians, and it completely broke the spirit of the red 
men, who soon made peace. Thus, the settlement of Ken- 
tucky, within a few years, became practicable. Most of the 
men from the Watauga settlement did not arrive in time for 
the battle, but Robertson and one of Sevier's brothers were 
among those who first discovered the Indians and saved 
Lewis's camp. Dunmore's force had done nothing, and his 
officers, restive at their inaction against both the Indians 
and English oppression, united with those of Lewis in passing 
resolutions declaring their sympathy v/ith the Continental 
Congress and all the efforts made to preserve the rights 
and liberties of the colonies. 



Opening of the Revolution. 157 

George Rogers Clarke. — Many of the men engaged in 
this campaign did valiant service within the next ten years. 
Among these was George Rogers Clarke, a young man from 
Albemarle County, Virginia. He was of good family and 
well educated, an enthusiastic hunter, and fond of a roving, 
adventurous life. Like George Washington and many 
other young Virginians, he had become a surveyor, and had 
been employed in this capacity along the Ohio River. Here 
he fell in with Cresap and took part in some of his raids 
against the Indians ; and was afterwards attached to Lord 
Dunmore's force as a scout. This training in the woods 
and among the Indians stood him m good stead, as you will 
afterwards see. 

AUTHORITIES— Bancroffs History of the United States, Vols. VII, VIII.; Hil- 
dretli's History of the United States, Vol. III. : Winsor's Narrative and Critical His- 
tory of the United States, Vol. VI. ; Cami)bell's History of Virginia; Marshall's Life 
of Washington; Irving's Life of Washington; William Wirt Henry'.? Life of Patrick 
Henry; Rowland's Memoirs of George Mason; Roosevelt's Winning of the West. 

QUESTIONS. — 1. "When was the first Revohitionary Convention in Vir- 
ginia ? 2. When the second ? 8. The first Continental Congress ? 4. Who 
were some of the deputies, especially from your State? 5. What were its 
decisions ? 6. ]\Iention the three distinguished men of the next paragraph. 
7. What territory was invited to join the colonies ? 8. Tell of General Gage 
in Boston, and John Hancock. 9. Troubles in Virginia. 10. Who were 
Cornstalk, Logan, Cresap, and Greathouse? 11. What force was collected 
for defence? 12. Who was the general commanding ? 13. What were Lord 
Dunmore's orders? 14. Describe the battle of the Great Kanawha, and its 
results. 15. What did Dunmore's officers do ? 16. Who was George Rogers 
Clarke ? 



CHAPTER XXVI. 

OPENING OF THE REVOLUTION. 

Virginia Convention of 1775. — Early in 1775 William Pitt, 
then Lord Chatham, tried to move the British Parliament 
to recoriciliation, but instead, bills v/ere passed still further 
curtailing American liberties. The second Virginia con- 
vention met in St. John's church in Richmond. The mem- 
bers differed in their opinions, some still hoping that a dis- 
sension between the colonies and the mother country might 
be settled without resort to arms. Patrick Henry proposed 
that the colony should be put in a condition to defend her- 



158 



History of the United States. 




ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 



self, and that measures should be taken to raise, arm, and 
equip soldiers for the purpose. Several of the older and more 
conservative members thought the time had not come for so 
extreme and revolutionary a measure. Patrick Henry then 
made, in St. John's Church, Richmond, the grand speech 

in which he uttered the elo- 
quent words never since for- 
gotten: "We must fight; 
an appeal to arms and to 
the God of battles is all 
that is left us "; and wound 
up the magnificent appeal 
with the thrilling exclama- 
tion : " I know not what 
course others may take, but 
as for me, give me liberty 
or give me death." A deep 
silence followed this out- 
burst, but Henry's resolu- 
tions were adopted, and 
the colony was soon astir with the enlisting and mustering 
of soldiers, and the preparation of arms and ammunition. 

Removal of the Powder. — Governor Dunmore, in the 
mean time, forbade the delegates to be sent to the con- 
gress, which was to assemble in May. He also had the 
powder, stored in the magazine in Williamsburg, carried off 
at night and placed on one of the ships in the river, thus 
striving to cripple the defence of the colony as Berkeley 
had done one hundred years before. The news of this high- 
handed measure called forth a burst of indignation through- 
out Virginia, and men volunteered everywhere to march to 
Williamsburg and force the governor to restore the powder. 
A troop from Hanover County, led by Henry, compelled 
Dunmore to pay the full value of the powder he had re- 
moved. 

Battle of Lexington, 1775. — .Just at this time, the open- 
ing fight of the Revolution occurred in Massachusetts. 
General Gage, in Boston, had been reinforced so that he had 
three thousand British troops. The colonists had collected 
a supply of ammunition at Concord, sixteen miles away, 
which Gage determined to destroy. He hoped also to cap- 



Opening of the Revolution. 159 

ture Samuel Adams and John Hancock on their way to the 
meeting of Congress. Eight hundred British soldiers crossed 
the Charles River, in the night of April 18th, and set out 
on the march for Concord. Dr. Warren, who was a mem- 
ber of the committee of safety, sent out messengers to alarm 
the country. A lantern hung in one of the church towers 
also gave signals of danger which had been agreed upon. 
These were so quickly understood that when the British 
force approached Lexington, they found seventy " minute 
men " of the town assembled on the green. Major Pitcairn 
rode forward and demanded what they meant. " We are 
going to Concord," was the reply. " Disperse, ye rebels 1 " 
shouted Pitcairn, who then fired his pistol and called to his 
men to fire. Seven of the " minute men " were killed and 
nine wounded. The British marched on to Concord. A 
good part of the stores had been removed, but what re- 
mained were destroyed. By this time, the minute men 
from all the region round had assembled in considerable 
numbers, and kept up a continual attack on the British all 
along their return to Boston. The English lost two hundred 
and seventy-three of their number. The American loss was 
eighty-nine. 

Israel Putnam and John Stark. — The news of this con- 
flict spread like lightning through the colonies, and aroused 
a resolute spirit of union in defence. War had come, and 
men made ready to meet it. Israel Putnam, in Connecticut, 
left his plow in the furrow and rode off" on one of his plow 
horses to join the army before Boston. John Stark, in 
New Hampshire, another soldier trained in the French and 
Indian wars, with equal promptness left his home ten min- 
utes after hearing of the fight, and, as he rode towards Bos- 
ton, aroused and animated all the men along his road to 
bestir themselves in defence of liberty. 

A General Rising of the Country. — The same eagerness of 
resistance blazed up everywhere. The night after receiving 
news of the battle of Lexington, the citizens of Charleston, 
South Carolina, seized the royal arsenal and distributed 
twelve hundred stand of arms. The assembly of the colony, 
headed by Henry Laurens, ordered two regiments of infantry 
and one of rangers to be raised, and issued one hundred 
thousand dollars in support of the war, Georgia, too, with. 




160 History of the United States. 

her small population, was stirred from her inactivity, and, 
taking possession of the king's magazine in Savannah, 
obtained an important supply of powder, upon which the 
royal governor wrote, " A general rebellion throughout 
America is coming on suddenly and swiftly." 

Capture of Ticonderoga. — Three weeks after the first fight 
at Lexington, a band of volunteers from New England, 

under command of Ethan 
Allen of Vermont, marched 
into New York and surprised 
Ticonderoga. The com- 
mander of the fort was 
aroused from his sleep by a 
summons from Allen to sur- 
render. " By what authori- 
ty ? " demanded the aston- 
KuiNs OF TICONDEROGA. -gj^^^ omceT. " lu thc name 

of the great Jehovah and the Continental Congress," replied 
Allen. Resistance was useless, and in a few moments the 
fort, with its garrison of fifty men, nearly two hundred can- 
non and many military stores, passed into the possession of 
the Americans. Two days after. Crown Point was cap- 
tured, arid in a little while Fort George also. Prisoners, 
cannon, and ammunition were obtained at all three 
places. 

Second Continental Congress, 1775. — The second Conti- 
nental Congress met in Philadelphia on the very day that 
Ticonderoga was taken. May 10th. Peyton Randolph was 
again chosen to preside over it, but resigned to go back to 
Virginia, where he had been elected speaker of the assembly; 
and John Hancock, of Massachusetts, succeeded him as 
president of the congress. The congress was not yet pre- 
pared for open revolt and independence. Some of the 
wisest and most patriotic members continued to hope that 
some way could be found by which their liberties could be 
guaranteed, and they remain loyal subjects of the English 
king. They therefore sent another petition to their agents 
in England to be delivered to the king, but he refused to re- 
ceive it. The representatives of Georgia did not reach Phila- 
delphia until some days after the Congress met, and the 
addresses issued to the people of Great Britain, of Ire- 



Opening of the Revolution. 161 

land, and of New England are in the name of the twelve 
united colonies. 

Extreme Measures of England. — It was the progress of 
events in Massachusetts which overcame their scruples; and 
the violent and extreme measures taken by King George, 
when the news of the battle of Lexington reached England, 
decided the most irresolute among them that no hope re- 
mained to them save in resistance. These measures were 
to declare the Americans rebels and to raise the Indians and 
negroes to fight against them, arms being furnished for the 
purpose. 

"The United Colonies." — Reinforcements had reached 
Boston under the British generals Howe, Clinton, and Bur- 
goyne, and the whole number of troops was about ten thou- 
sand. General Gage, on June 12th, proclaimed Massachu- 
setts under martial law, ordered the people to lay down their 
arms, and offered pardon to all who would do so except 
Samuel Adams and John Hancock. This proclamation put 
an end to the hesitation in Congress. They formed a fede- 
ral union and took the name of "United Colonies." They 
adopted the army already raised, called it the " Conti- 
nental Army," and voted to borrow thirty thousand dol- 
lars to pay for powder for its use. They determined to issue 
three million dollars in paper money and to raise an army 
of twenty thousand men. They laid upon the patriot forces 
of New York the duty of fortifying and keeping open a way 
of access from New England to Philadelphia, and they de- 
termined to elect a commander-in-chief. Several of the 
leading patriots and officers aspired to that dignity, espe- 
cially John Hancock. But George Washington had so 
greatly impressed Congress and the country as wise, 
prudent, skilful, and experienced that he was elected to fill 
the difficult and responsible position. 

Washing-ton Commander-in-Chief. — To the commander-in- 
chief were added four major-generals (Ward, Charles Lee, 
Philip Schuyler, and Israel Putnam), and eight brigadier- 
generals (Seth Pomeroy, Richard Montgomery, David 
Wooster, William Heath, Joseph Spencer, John Thomas, 
John Sullivan, and Nathanael Greene). Charles Lee, the 
third in command, was an Englishman, who, after fighting 
in various wars in Europe and America, had resigned his 
11 




162 History of the United States. 

commission and settled in Virginia. Horatio Gates, who by 
Washington's influence was made adjutant-general of the 
continental army, was also a British soldier of ability and 
experience, who had left the army to become a Virginia 
planter. 

Washington's Appearance and Character. — Washington 
was in the prime of life, forty-three years old, tall and 

stately, noble in bearing, calm 
and dignified under all circum- 
stances. His fine appearance, 
especially on horseback, his 
i'!l/:!.L'^ manly presence, and soldierly 
— look, delighted all who saw him. 
WASHINGTON'S BIRTHPLACE. Ou tlic 20th of JuuB hc receivcd 
the commission from Congress which placed upon his shoul- 
ders as great a responsibility as any one man had ever 
borne. You will see how nobly he sustained it, and how 
much we Americans owe to his fidelity, courage, and 
unselfish patriotism. 

ATJTHORITIES— Bancroft's History of the United States, Vols. VII., VIII.; Hil- 
dreth's History of the United States, Vol. III.; Winsor's Narrative and Critical His- 
tory of the United States, Vol. VI. ; Campbell's History of Virginia; Marshall's Life 
of Washington; Irving's Life of Washington ; William Wirt Henry's Life of Patrick 
Henry ; Rowland's Memoirs of George Mason. 

QUESTIONS.— Where was the Virginia Convention of 1775 held? 
2. Tell of Patrick Henry's great speech. 3. What result followed ? 4. What 
did Governor Dunmore do ? 5. Describe the battle of Lexington. 6. Who 
were Israel Putnam and John Stark ? 7. Tell of the effect of the bat- 
tle of Lexington all over the counti-y. 8. Who captured Ticonderoga? 
9. What other forts on Lake George were taken ? 10. Tell of the second 
Continental Congress. 11. Why were there only twelve colonies? 12. What 
did England do when the news of the uprising reached her ? 13. What name 
did the colonies take, and who was elected commander-in-chief of their 
armies? 14. How many generals were appointed? 15. Describe Washing- 
ton's appearance and character. 



CHAPTER XXVri. 

BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL. 

Troops Around Boston, 1775. — While Congress, in Phila- 
delphia, was deliberating and deciding, calling a nation 
into being, the first real battle of the Revolution had been 



Battle of Bunker Hill. 



163 




KU.NKKK HILL. 



fought before Boston. An army of about fifteen thousand 
men from the four New England colonies, poorly armed and 
equipped, had collected 
around that city. The British 
troops looked with scorn on 
what they considered a dis- 
orderly crowd of rustics clad 
in their homespun "frocks," 
and armed with fowling 
pieces. Before long, they 
found how well these despised 
provincials could fight. The 
British army was in Boston 
and had fortified " Boston 
Neck." The colonists lay 
around the city from Charles- 
town towards the south. A rumor reached the American 
camp that General Gage was about to fortify Dorchester 
Heights, and this rumor decided the Americans to intrench 
on Bunker's Hill. 

Intrenchment of Breed's Hill. — On the evening of June 
16th, twelve hundred men under Colonel Prescott, after 
joining in a prayer by President Langdon of Harvard Col- 
lege, marched in the darkness to Charlestown, carrying 
their intrenching tools. There was a British battery, just 
across the narrow strip of water, on Copp's Hill, so that 
they had to proceed with the utmost silence and caution. 
The highest point, Bunker's Hill, was first reached, but, as 
Breed's Hill, which was a little lower, was nearer to Boston, 
it was decided to make the intrenchment there. Colonel 
Gridley marked out the lines. The men threw off their 
coats, seized the spades, and set to digging about midnight. 
So rapidly they worked that by dawn there was a redoubt and 
an embankment six feet high upon the crest and down the 
side of the hill. The British ship Lively discovered the 
work and opened fire upon it. But the Americans worked 
on. Colonel Prescott, to encourage the men, got up on top 
of the embankment and walked around. Gage saw him, 
and learned from some Americans what a dauntless soldier 
he had to contend with. 

Landing of the British. — By noon two thousand British 



164 



History of the United States. 




soldiers under generals Howe and Pigot were landed 
on Charlestown Neck, for there was no force to prevent 
it. Howe saw in the distance the New Hampshire 
men marching up, so he halted his forces and sent 
over to General Gage for more men. 
For two hours they stayed there and were 
refreshed with beer and food. During 
this delay Stark and his men reached 
Breed's Hill, and had time to make a 
novel breastwork by planting one fence be- 
hind another and filling the space between 
with hay. Scattering reinforcements also 
came; Pomeroy, the veteran, and War- 
ren, who, though a general, volunteered 
M iREEN g^g ^ private soldier. Putnam also came, 

but he wasted time and labor in throwing up an intrench- 
ment upon Bunker's Hill. 

British Assault Repulsed. — The British having been rein- 
forced, now prepared for a general assault. The men behind 
the intrenchments were ordered not to fire on the British 
until they could " see the whites of their eyes." The Ameri- 
cans gave no sign, therefore, until the enemy was close upon 
tliem, then taking deliberate aim, the skilful marksmen 
poured such a volley of bullets and musket balls upon the ad- 
vancing line that it fell back in confusion. Rallied by their 
officers, they returned to the charge, but another volley 
even more destructive than the first met them, and tlie 
British retired in greater haste than before. Much the 
same thing occurred to Howe's advance. He expected to 
carry the breastwork of the fences and hay with little 
trouble. Here, as at the hill, the Americans waited until 
the British were within thirty paces, and then a murder- 
ous fire drove them back. 

Americans Forced to Retreat. — With five hundred fresh 
troops, and General Clinton as a volunteer aid, Howe 
brought up his men for a third attack. This time he directed 
his eff'orts against the hill. The Americans again fired, but 
with less eff'ect, and soon not at all. Their powder was gone, 
and Prescott, seeing resistance impossible, ordered a retreat. 
While British and Americans, in a confused mass, surged 
down the hill, Warren was shot through the breast. Up 



Battle of Bunker Hill. 



165 



over the unfinished works on Bunker's Hill and down its 
western slope, the Americans withdrew. The men at the 
fence maintained their ground until Prescott's force had all 
withdrawn, when they, too, fell stubbornly back. The Eng- 
lish made no effort to follow them, but intrenched them- 
selves on Bunker's Hill, and neither side made any attempt 
to renew the contest. 

Opinions of the Battle. — The Americans were much cha- 
grined at what they considered their defeat. The British, 
on their part, felt liumiliated 
and disappointed. They had 
only been able to dislodge the 
colonial troops from their feeble 
defences with the loss of one 
thousand and fiftj^-four of the 
attacking force. The Americans 
lost four hundred and fifty. 
News of the battle, and of the 
gallant way in which the pro- 
vincial army had fought, roused 
great enthusiasm throughout the 
colonies. General Washington 
had left Philadelphia on horse- 
back, on the 21st of June, ac- 
companied by Generals Lee and 
Schuyler, together with a party of his friends. About twenty 
miles from Philadelphia they met a courier spurring on to 
carry to Congress tidings of the l)attle of Bunker Hill. When 
Washington heard how bravely the militia had behaved, he 
seemed much encouraged, and exclaimed: "The liberties of 
our country are safe." 

Washington Takes Command of the Army. — Washington 
loft General Schuyler to command the Americans in New 
York, and pushed on as fast as possible for Boston. He 
took charge of the arm}' at Cambridge on Jul}'^ 2d, having 
been received with every demonstration of joy, and a salute 
from the cannon of the Americans, notwithstanding their 
small supply of powder. 

AUTHORITIES.— Bancroft's History of the United States, Vols. VII., VIII.; Hil- 
dreth's History of the United States, Vol. III. ; Winsor's Narrative and Critical His- 
tory of the United States, Vol. VI. ; Campbell's History of Virginia; Marshall's Life of 
Washington; Irving's Life of Washinjiton; William W. Henry's Life of Patrick 
Henry; Rowland's Memoirs of George Mason. 




BUNKER HILL MONUMENT. 



166 



History of the United States. 



QUESTIONS.— 1. Tell of the collecting of troops around Boston. 2. In- 
trenehraent of Breed's Hill. 3. Who commanded the Americans ? 4. Who 
the British ? 5. Describe the assault and defeat of the British. 6. Why 
were the Americans forced to retreat? 7. What brave man was killed? 
8. What were the various opinions of the battle ? 9. AVhen and where did 
Washington take command of the army ? 10. Find all the places mentioned 
on the maps. 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 

INVASION OF CANADA— FALL OF BOSTON. 

"The Continental Line." — Washington found his hands 
full of work in reducing the undisciplined mass of men at 
Cambridge into an orderly, well-trained, and efficient army. 






r.EORGE WASHINGTON. 



The Rhode Island men, under General Greene, were the 
only troops who had a soldierly look and a well ordered camp. 
To curb the independent spirit of the volunteers, the men 



Invasion of Canada. 167 

were regularly enlisted for the war or for some definite time. 
These regular troops were known as " The Continental 
Line." After this was effected, the jealousy among the 
troops and officers from the different colonies was a con- 
tinual trouble, and the dislike of the men to commanders 
who were not of their own choice and from their own sec- 
tion, constantly harassed the generals. Washington in- 
sisted that Congress should appoint an efficient general staff — 
officers who were to look after the clothing, food, quarters, 
and ammunition for the soldiers. He also advised that, as 
the soldiers were without uniforms. Congress should have 
ten thousand hunting shirts made for the army. 

Troops from Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. — In 
the course of a few months, the ranks of the army were 
filled by troops coming from every colony. Among others 
came fourteen hundred riflemen from Pennsylvania, Mary- 
land, and Virginia, hardy hunters and bush fighters, such 
as Washington had known in his early days in the western 
wilds. The New England officers were disposed to regard 
slightingly these recruits, whose wild appearance and inde- 
pendent bearing seemed to them an additional element of 
disorder. But Washington knew better. He knew how 
true both their hearts and their shooting would prove, and 
when Daniel Morgan rode into camp with his ninety-six 
mounted riflemen, who had come six hundred miles from 
the Valley of the Shenandoah, having for direction Mor- 
gan's pithy order, "A bee line for Boston," Washington is 
said to have greeted them with glistening eyes. But while 
the army was thus improved, the lack of powder kept Wash- 
ington from making any active efforts against the English, 
although Congress and his subordinate generals constantly 
urged him to do so. He could hem the British closely 
within their lines at Boston, but he could make no attack 
because he had no powder for his men to shoot with. Colo- 
nel Knox went to Ticonderoga, with an order from Washing- 
ton, and succeeded in bringing to Boston fifty of the large 
cannon and mortars captured there. But there were still 
two thousand men without muskets, and Congress could 
supply neither the arms nor the ammunition. 

Efforts to Seize Canada, 1775. — In the mean time, efforts 
were made by the Americans to take possession of Canada, 




168 History of the United States. 

but the hearts of the Canadians were not with them, and 
the various expeditions failed of their object. Montreal fell 
for a time into the hands of the colonists. 
Washington was anxious to capture Que- 
bec, thinking that the possession of it 
would insure Canada to the United Colo- 
nies. To effect this eleven hundred men, 
under command of Benedict Arnold, were 
sent by way of the Kennebec River to ap- 
proach Quebec on the east, and co-oj^erate 
with Montgomery's advance from the west. 
MORGAN. Arnold was accompanied by Aaron Burr 

as a volunteer. Daniel Morgan, with his riflemen from the 
Valley of Virginia, took part in the expedition. 

Attack on Quebec. — After encountering great hardships 
and difficulties in their wilderness journey, Arnold and his 
force reached Quebec. Montgomery's men had refused to 
advance, so that he could only bring a small number to 
Arnold's assistance. In an assault on the citadel on the last 
day of that year, Montgomery was killed and Arnold severely 
wounded, four hundred of the attacking force of twelve 
hundred were either killed or captured. Among the prison- 
ers was Daniel Morgan. The whole enterprise came to 
nothing, and the colonists returned home in the spring. 

First Colonial Flag, 1776. — On the 1st of January the 
new flag of the United Colonies, thirteen stripes, added to 
the British union or blue square, was hoisted over General 
Washington's camp at Cambridge. 

Attack on Boston. — By March Washington had secured 
powder enough to make his long desired attack on Boston. 
He occupied Dorchester Heights on the night of March 4th. 
The British general was astonished the next morning to see 
a formidable-looking fortress frowning upon him from an 
elevation which commanded his whole encampment and 
fleet, and exclaimed: " These rebels have done more work in 
one night than my whole army would have done in a 
month." There was nothing for the British but to evacuate 
Boston. On the 17th of March, Howe and his eleven thou- 
sand men sailed out of the harbor, and left the city to be 
occupied by the Americans the next day. 

Washington Takes His Army to New York. — There was 



TJie Southern Colonies. 169 

no longer need for the army at Boston, Sir Guy Carleton 
in Canada was preparing to descend upon the Valley of the 
Hudson, and Howe to take possession of New York. General 
Washington, therefore, moved his force to defend that city. 

AUTHORITIES.— Bancroft's History of the United States, Vols. VII., VIII.; Hil- 
dreth's History of the United States. Vol. III.; Winsor's Narrative and Uritieai His- 
tory of the United States, Vol. VI ; CampbelTs History of Virginia; Marshall's Life 
of Washington; Irvinfj's Life of Washington; William Wirt Henry's Life of Patrick 
Henry; Rowland's Memoirs of George Mason. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. What is meant by the "Continental Line"? 2. What 
advice did Washington oiTer to Congress ? 3. Tell of the troops from Penn- 
sylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. 4. Who was Paniel JMorgan, and what was 
his marching order? 5. Why could not Washington attaci<; the British in 
Boston? 6. What campaign was made to the noilh? 7. Kelate the attack 
on Quebec. 8. Where is Quebec ? 9. Describe the first colonial flag. 10. Draw 
it. 11. Tell of the attack on Boston, and its result. 12. Where did Wash- 
ington now go, and why? 13. Have you found on the map all the places 
mentioned ? 14. In what year did all this occur ? 



CHAPTER XXIX. 

THE SOUTHERN COLONIES—DECLARATION OF INDE- 
PENDENCE. 

Before we follow General Washington to New York let us 
see what was going on south of the Potomac River. 

Virginia Assembly Deposes Dunmore. — Lord Dunmore 
convened the House of Burgesses in Virginia on the 1st of 
June, but, taking offence at what he considered their rebel- 
lious disposition, he left Williamsburg and established him- 
self with his family on the Fowey man-of-war, twelve miles 
away. Before long, the assembly declared that by going off 
and refusing to return, he had abdicated his post as gov- 
ernor, and that the president of the council was the head of 
the colony. 

Convention of 1775. — The assembly then adjourned, and 
met as "The Convention of 1775," in Richmond, on July 
17th. This convention ordered that two regiments of regu- 
lars should be enlisted for a year, and two companies to 
defend the western borders ; that the colony should be 
divided into sixteen districts, and the militia exercised as 
minute men, to be ready at a moment's warning. A com- 
mittee of safety to take charge of the affairs of the colony 
was organized. It consisted of eleven members, with Ed- 



170 History of the United States. 

mund Pendleton, one of the most conservative of the num- 
ber, at its head. Laws were also passed for raising money 
and imposing taxes, for procuring arms and supplies of 
saltpetre, lead, and sulphur, and for encouraging the manu- 
facture of gunpowder ; as well as for regulating elections 
and establishing some general test of fidelity to the country. 

Dunmore Declares War on Virginia. — Patrick Henry was 
made colonel of the First Regiment, and Colonel Woodford 
of the Second. A camp was established on the Williams- 
burg green. Dunmore, on his part, kept up a sort of pre- 
datory warfare along the coasts, by means of some armed 
vessels he had, and, on November 7th, proclaimed martial 
law; he ordered all the citizens to join his standard or be pro- 
claimed traitors, and offered freedom to all the slaves who 
would rise up against their masters. He also ordered the 
Indians on the west to be roused against the colony, and a 
regiment of the backwoodsmen to be enlisted against the 
patriots. The first actual resistance in the colony was at 
Hampton. A British vessel containing stores had run 
aground, and been burned by the people of the town. In 
retaliation some ships came near, intending to land and 
burn Hampton, but the opposition off'ered was so stout that 
they withdrew without executing their purpose. 

Battle of Great Bridge. — Dunmore had stationed him- 
self in the southeastern part of the colony, where there was 
a good number of tories; and General Woodford with eight 
hundred men was ordered to go in pursuit of him. In this 
little army marched John Marshall, afterwards famous as 
Chief Justice of the United States. Woodford found Dun- 
more's force intrenched at the Great Bridge across the 
Elizabeth River, about twenty miles from Norfolk. Having 
no cannon, he could not attack the fort, but proceeded to 
intrench himself not far off. His slight fortification was 
attacked by a considerable force of British grenadiers. The 
Americans, as elsewhere, reserved their fire until the 
assaulting party was close upon them. The musketry and 
rifle discharge was then so deadly that, after a second 
attack, every grenadier was killed. Discouraged by their 
loss of a hundred men, while Woodford had not even one 
killed, the British retreated in the night, and Dunmore 
took refuge on shipboard. 



The Southern Colonies. 171 

North Carolina Sends Aid to Virginia. — North Carolina 
had greatly disappointed her royal governor by showing 
herself fully in sympathy with her sister colonies, and 
equally determined to resist British oppression. As early 
as the summer of 1775, the people of Mecklenburg County 
passed strong resolutions asserting their right and intention 
to govern themselves. The patriots had overpowered the 
efforts made by the governor and tories to raise troops 
for British aid, and, hearing of Dunmore's attempt in Vir- 
ginia to put down what he pleased to term the rebellion, by 
arbitrary and cruel measures, six hundred North Carolina 
troops under Colonel Howe marched to Woodford's assist- 
ance. Shortly after the battle of Great Bridge, the provin- 
cials took possession of Norfolk under Colonel Howe, who 
ranked Colonel Woodford. On the 1st of January, 1776, 
the city was burned b}^ the guns and mortars from the 
British fleet. Dunmore withdrew to Gwynn's Island, 
farther up the Chesapeake, and was finally driven from Vir- 
ginia. 

Action of South Carolina and Georgia. — South Carolina 
had shown herself as determined as Massachusetts and Vir- 
ginia to defend her own right;? and assist her sister colonies. 
She raised and equipped soldiers for defence, and appointed 
a committee of safety, of which Henry Laurens was made 
president. They took possession of the fort and other strong 
points of defence around Charleston, and began putting 
them in condition to resist attack by British ships. Georgia 
had done what her small population allowed, towards taking 
her stand with her sisters. Two war vessels with troops on 
board came to Tybee in .January. The colony had neither 
ships nor men to oppose them, but the committee of safety 
ordered the royal governor to be at once arrested, and thus 
prevented such outrages as Dunmore's in Virginia. 

Not Ready for Independence. — But with all this, the colo- 
nies did not yet understand that it was a necessity for them 
to cut themselves entirely loose from England and declare 
themselves an independent nation. Virginia, South Caro 
lina, Pennsylvania, New York, and Maryland were espe- 
cially attached to the mother countr}^ and hoped, almost 
against hope, that some mode of reconciling their difficul- 
ties might be found. But God intended them to become a 



172 



History of the United States. 




RUTLEBGE. 



separate nation, and the course of events soon forced them 
to see that it must be so. 

Acts of Congress. — When Congress learned that King 
George had hired foreign soldiers to fight against the Ameri- 
cans; that he had given orders 
for his vessels to attack and de- 
stroy the towns along their coasts 
and any ships belonging to the 
colonists, and was determined to 
use every means to crush them, 
it was forced to act with decision. 
^ ^ " Letters of marque," or permis- 
^'N^^ sion to any ship to arm itself 
and fight against the English 
ships, were issued, and steps taken 
to form a navy for the colonies. 
The colonies were advised to set 
up for themselves such forms of 
government as seemed best to 
them ; and the whole territory from Maine to Georgia was 
divided into military districts, to be commanded and defended 
by Continental ofiicers and soldiers. 

South Carolina Declares Herself Independent, 1776. — 
All this was acting independently, but not declaring them- 
selves so before the world. The first steps 
towards this were taken in the South. Mas- 
sachusetts and New Hampshire were gov- 
erning themselves According to the rules 
of their old charters, and most of the colo- 
nies had committees of safety to regulate 
their affairs ; but South Carolina, early in 
February, proceeded to organize a new i 
and independent government, as a tempo- 
rary expedient, with its legislature, its 
courts, its officers, and its army. John 
Rutledge was chosen president, Henry 
Laurens vice-president, and William Henry Drayton chief 
justice. Christopher Gadsden, after a perilous voyage in a 
little sloop from Philadelphia, had to run into Georgetown 
harbor to escape an English ship, and came overland to 
Charleston to take command of the army. Thus this little 




The Southern Colonies. 173 

colony was the first to proclaim herself a State indepen- 
dent of all other government. 

North Carolina's Action. — North Carolina, in a few weeks, 
went a little farther, and empowered her delegates in Con- 
gress to concur with the delegates of other colonics in 
declaring themselves independent and in forming foreign 
alliances. 

Virginia's Recommendation to Congress. — But it was Vir- 
ginia, the oldest, the most populous, the most English, and 
most conservative of all the colonies, which set before Con- 
gress the necessity for independence ; which convinced the 
reluctant and confirmed the wavering, and presented to 
that body the Declaration of Independence, which gave to 
the astonished gaze of the world the confederation of the 
States of America. 

Convention of 1776. — The Convention of 1776 met in 
Williamsburg on the 6th of May. Edmund Pendleton was 
again chosen president. The first thing that engaged the 
attention of this body of as able, intelligent, sound-judging 
men as were ever assembled, was the necessity and impor- 
tance of declaring the colonies independent. Before many 
days resolutions, arranged by Patrick Henry, were offered 
in the house by Thomas Nelson, Jr., instructing the Vir- 
ginia delegates in Congress to propose to that body " to 
declare the United Colonies free and independent States." 
Another resolution appointed a committee to draw up a 
"Bill of Rights," and a plan of government for the colony. 
These resolutions were seconded with all Patrick Henry's 
eloquence. 

Committee Appointed to Prepare a Declaration of Inde- 
pendence. — In accordance with the instructions from Vir- 
ginia, Richard Henry Lee, of that colony, on the 7th of 
June, brought into Congress a resolution, which was seconded 
by John Adams, for an immediate and total separation from 
Great Britain. After long and earnest debate, a committee 
was appointed to prepare a declaration of independence. 
Mr. Lee had been compelled to leave Philadelphia for Vir- 
ginia, and could not, therefore, be a member of this com- 
mittee, which consisted of Thomas Jefferson, of A^irginia ; 
John Adams, of Massachusetts ; Benjamin Franklin, of 
Pennsylvania.; and Robert Livingston, of New York. 



174 



History of the United States. 




THOMAS JEFFERSON. 



Thomas Jefferson. — Thomas Jefferson was a native of 
Albemarle County, Virginia, of English parentage and con- 
siderable fortune. He was carefully taught in boyhood, 
and afterwards was a student at William and 
Mary College. He then studied law, and be- 
gan to practice in the courts at twenty-four 
years of age. An ardent student both of 
books and nature, possessed of a brilliant 
and logical intellect, he soon became noted 
as one of the most forcible thinkers and 
writers of his time. A feeble voice pre- 
vented his becoming an orator, but he had 
already, at the age of thirty-three, won the 
reputation of being unsurpassed as a 
statesman and patriot. No man of his influential period'' 
impressed himself more powerfully on the history of his 
country. 

Bill of Rights and Virginia Constitution. — Before Con- 
gress had accepted the 
Declaration of Independ- 
ence, the Bill of Rights 
and the Constitution of 
Virginia, drawn up by 
George Mason, and the 
plan for the government 
of the colony, had been 
accepted by a unanimous 
vote of the convention, 
and Patrick Henry had 
been elected the first gov- 
ernor of the Common- 
wealth of Virginia. Thus, 
two of the southern colo- 
nies had, by the voice of 
their people, declared 
themselves free and inde- 
pendent States, before Congress had taken such a stand for 
the United Colonies. 

The Declaration of Independence was passed on July 
4, 1776, in Independence Hall, Philadelphia, and signed 
by the delegates from all thirteen of the colonies. 




DRAFTING THE DECLARATION. 



Defence of Charleston. 



175 



AUTHORITIES.— Bancroft's History of the United States, Vols. VII., VIII. ; Hil- 
dreth's History of the United States, Vol. III.; Campbell's History of Virginia; Wln- 
sor's Narrative and Critical History of the United States, Vol. VI.; William Wirt 
Henry's Life of Patrick Henry ; Rowland's Memoir of George Mason ; Marshall's Life 
of Washington ; Tyler's Letters and Times of the Tylers; Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, 
American Sts. Series; Hugh Blair Grigsby's Virginia Convention of 1776; Cooke's 
History of Virginia; Irving 's Life of Washington. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. What bold action did Virginia take in June, 1775? 
2. Mention some of the regulations of the convention. 3. What were Gov- 
ernor Dimmore's proceedings ? 4. Tell of the Battle of Great Bridge. 5. How 
did North Carolina act ? G. What became of Governor Dunmore? 7. Tell 
of South Carolina and Georgia. 8. Were the colonies ready for independ- 
ence? 9. What steps did Congress take ? 10. Tell of South Carolina's new 
constitution. 11. What independence did North Carolina and Virginia show? 
12. What committee was appointed by Congress June 7? 13. Who was 
Thomas Jefferson? 14. Which was the first colony to become a State? 
which the second ? 15. When and where was the Declaration of Independ- 
ence signed? 



CHAPTER XXX. 

DEFENCE OF CHARLESTON— BATTLES AROUND NEW YORK. 



Defences of Charleston, 1776. — Before the Declaration of 
Independence was signed in Philadelphia, South Carolina 
had proved her devotion to liberty in a stubborn fight. 
The fleet which General Washington had expected to sail 
from England for New York appeared 
off Charleston harbor early in June. 
The commanders in South Carolina 
had made great haste to put their capi- 
tal in a proper state of defence. The 
regular troops of the colony were made 
as efficient as the time allowed, and 
the militia summoned to their aid. To 
assist them came two regiments of 
North Carolinians and a regiment of 
Virginians, under Colonel Muhlen- 
burg, a Lutheran minister, who raised his men principally 
from his congregations in the Valley of Virginia. The har- 
bor of Charleston is shut in by islands and sand bars. On 
Sullivan's, the principal island, a fort of palmetto logs and 
sand bags had been begun, so as to defend the channel. 
This fort was commanded by Colonel William Moultrie, 
under whom were Isaac Nolte and Francis Marion. 




SIEGE OK CHARLESTON. 



176 



History of the United States. 



Attack by the British, 1776. — On the 27th of June, the 
British war vessels began a fierce cannonade upon the little 
fort. The cannon-balls, instead of battering down the fort, 
buried themselves in the spongy palmetto logs and the sand, 
and did little or no damage. The guns from the fort, on 
the other hand, inflicted immense injury on the fleet. In 
trying to pass behind the fort, several of the ships ran 
aground, and one had to be abandoned. Disheartened and 
discouraged by the failure of their attack, and by the dam- 




JASPER REPLACING THE FLAG. 



age done their ships, the British commanders weighed their 
anchors and sailed away, to the immense relief of the 
Carolinas and Virginia. 

Sergeant Jasper. — In gratitude to Moultrie for his stout 
resistance, the South Carolina authorities ordered the fort 
to be called Fort Moultrie, which name it still bears. Ser- 
geant Jasper also received the thanks of Governor Rut- 
ledge, for his gallant conduct in leaping through an embra- 
sure of the fort to recover the flag which had been shot 
down and had fallen outside of the wall. Although he was 
exposed to the hot fire of the enemy, he got possession of 
the flag, returned to the fort, bound it to a new staff, and 



Defence of Charleston. Ill 

placed it on the rampart in full view of the English. A 
commission as lieutenant was offered him, which he de- 
clined. The English loss in the fight was two hundred and 
five, that of the Americans eleven killed and twenty-six 
wounded. 

Results of the Victory. — This success at Charleston freed 
the Carolinas and Georgia from attack for nearly two years, 
and encouraged the Americans in the north. 

The Armies at New York. — From Charleston, Clinton 
took his force to New York, where the next struggle was 
to be made. General Washington, anticipating an attack on 
New York, had sent General Lee during the winter to take 
possession of the city and fortify it. A line of strong 
works had therefore been established on Brooklyn Heights. 
These and the other defences extended for almost twenty 
miles, and when Washington assembled his army there in 
April, he had only ten thousand six hundred men fit for 
duty out of a nominal roll of seventeen thousand. General 
William Howe had, on Staten Island, lying in the mouth of 
the harbor, thirty-one thousand six hundred men. Six 
thousand of these were Hessian troops hired by King 
George, and twenty-four thousand four hundred of the army 
were equal to any in the world. The arms and appoint- 
ments were all of the best. 

Battle of Long Island. — By August 23d General Howe had 
landed twenty thousand men and forty cannon on Long 
Island, and prepared to advance upon the American works 
on Brooklyn Heights. To oppose them there were only 
eight thousand American soldiers, most of them raw militia. 
The tories on Long Island led the British forces by the 
safest roads to the rear of the American position. Howe's 
numbers enabled him to surround General Sullivan and his 
four thousand men, who were guarding the approaches to 
Brooklyn Heights. A large number of Americans were 
killed or wounded, and Sullivan, with one thousand of 
them, was captured. Remembering the bloody work at 
Breed's Hill, Howe did not make a direct attack on the 
Heights, which were held by General Putnam and several 
thousand men, but prepared to besiege them. 

Washington Withdraws to Harlem and White Plains. — 
Taking advantage of this delay, Washington withdrew his 
12 



178 History of the United States. 

whole army in the night of the 29th, and crossed them over 
the East River, without Howe's suspecting any such move- 
ment. Washington himself crossed in the last boat, after 
having been in the saddle for forty-eight hours. His with- 
drawing his force in the face of a superior army was a dis- 
tinguishing proof of Washington's military ability. In a 
few days Howe also crossed over and occupied the city of 
New York. Washington held a strong position at Harlem 
Heights, on the northern end of Manhattan Island, and had 
obstructed the Hudson River in an endeavor to prevent the 
British ships from getting past him. Howe's efforts to carry 
the Heights were defeated, but when the British vessels passed 
the obstructions in the Hudson, Washington crossed to the 
mainland, burning the bridge behind him, and withdrew to 
White Plains, where he established a fortified camp. Howe 
followed him, and gained the advantage in a battle fought 
there on October 29th. 

Surrender of Fort Washington. — When he fell back to 
White Plains, Washington had left a large garrison in 
Fort Washington, lower down the Hudson. This fort the 
British attacked and captured on November 15th, with three 
thousand soldiers. Had Washington's directions for its evac- 
uation been complied with, the garrison might have been 
saved. In consequence of the surrender of Fort Washing- 
ington, Washington moved with part of his men into New 
Jersey, and, before long, the Americans were obliged to 
evacuate Fort Lee, on the opposite side of the Hudson, and 
Washington was obliged to retreat across New Jersey into 
Pennsylvania just opposite Trenton. 

At Lake Champlain. — While this was going on, Carleton 
had driven the Americans from Lake Champlain, except at 
Ticonderoga, which they still held. General Schuyler, who 
commanded there, was urgent for more troops that he might 
advance against Carleton. But there were no more to give 
him. Washington himself had only four thousand men, 
and the terra of service of half of these was nearly out. 
Experience had shown how difficult it was to induce them 
to re-enlist. 

Disobedience of General Charles Lee. — General Charles 
Lee had been left at North Castle, on the east side of the 
Hudson, with seven thousand men. He was now ordered 



Defence of Charleston. 



179 



to join Washington, but, instead of obeying, he busied him- 
self in an effort to supersede Washington, whom he abused 
and criticised to Congress and to private persons of influence, 
hoping to be himself made commander-in-chief. When 
Lee did move his army it was to Morristown, and not to 
Washington's camp. Not long afterwards he was captured 
by a party of British dragoons. It is thought that Lee had 
intended this, and that he told Howe all he knew of Wash- 
ington's plans. The capture was an advantage to the 
Americans, as it put a stop to his schemes against Washing- 
ton, and left General Sullivan free to obey Washington's 
orders. 

Removal of Congress to Baltimore, 1776. — Congress was 
so much alarmed at Washington's retreat into Pennsylvania 
that it moved from Philadelphia to Baltimore. It had passed 
some resolutions before this that the army should be en- 
larged and improved, and now it gave Washington " power 
to order and direct all things " necessary to carry on the 
war. Under this authority, three battalions of artillery 
were received, increase of pay was promised the men, and 
ten dollars for each soldier who would serve six weeks longer 
than the expiring term of his enlistment. 

Washington Crosses the Delaware. — There were a good 
many tories and lukewarm patriots in 
New Jersey, and Howe offered many re- 
wards if they would boldly join him; 
but the outrages and indignities com- 
mitted by the British and Hessian sol- 
diers quartered among them angered the 
people, and they became more earnest in 
their efforts for liberty. Washington de- 
termined to take advantage of this feel- 
ing, and to strike a blow at the enemy 
before his army was weakened by the re- 
turn home of numbers of his men. 
Christmas night he crossed the Delaware 
River, which was full of floating ice, 
marched nine miles through a severe snow storm, and at- 
tacked the British centre posted at Trenton. 

Battle of Trenton. — The ice in the river and the difficulty 
of the march prevented all the troops from getting up in 




MAP OF TRENTON. 



180 History of the United States. 

time. But, notwithstanding this and the fact that the 
intense cold froze one man to death and benumbed many 
others, the expedition was a great success. The British 
were completely surprised, and though some escaped, twenty 
Hessians were killed and nearly one thousand taken pri- 
soners. The American loss was two men killed, one frozen, 
and two officers killed. 

Washington's Determination. — It was at the time of great- 
est discouragement in this campaign that Washington 
declared that if men and means failed him, he would " retire 
to the mountains of west Augusta, and from there, if need 
be, cross the Alleghanies to secure independence." 

AUTHORITIES.— Bancroft's History of the United States, Vols. VII., VIII.; Hil- 
dreth's History of the United States, Vol. III.; Campbell's History of Virginia; 
Windsor's Narrative and Critical History of the United States, Vol. VI. , 
William Wirt Henry's Life of Patrick Henry; Rowland's Memoir of George Mason; 
Marshall's Life of Washington; Tyler's Letters and Times of the Tylers; Jefferson. 
Madison Monroe, American Sts. Series; Hugh Blair Grigby's Virginia Convention of 
1776; Cooke's History of Virginia; Irving's Life of Washington 

QUESTIONS.— 1. How was Charleston defended ? 2. Tell of the British 
attack and Moultrie's brave defence. 3. What is the story of Jasper ? 
4. What were the results of this victory ? o. What armies now gathered at 
New York ? 6. Describe the battle of Long Island. 7. The wise retreat of 
Washington. 8. Where did he go ? 9. What happened at Lake CJhamplain ? 
10. Tell of General Charles Lee and his strange behavior. 11. Why did Con- 
gress remove to Baltimore ? 13. When did Washington re-cross the Delaware 
into New Jersey ? 13. Relate the battle of Trenton. 14. What was Wash- 
ington's determination ? 15. Find all the places mentioned. 



CHAPTER XXXI. 

AID FROM FRANCE— BATTLES AROUND PHILADELPHIA. 

Cornwallis Against Washington, 1777. — The success at 
Trenton greatly encouraged the Americans and stirred up 
the British very much. Lord Cornwallis was about sailing 
for England, but he was ordered instead to take command 
of an army and drive Washington again out of Jersey. He 
moved forward so rapidly that, by the 2d of January, he 
was in front of Washington, at Trenton, with seven thou- 
sand men. The American army was less than four thou- 
sand, and, owing to the ice in the Delaware, they could 



Aid from France. 181 

neither retreat nor get reinforcements. Cornwallis declined 
attacking at night, but was sure that he would " bag the 
fox in the morning." 

Battle of Princeton. — When morning came, there was no 
fox to bag. By a wonderful maneuvre, in the night of 
January 3d, Washington passed round Cornwallis's flank, 
attacked and defeated the rear of his army at Prince- 
ton with a loss of not more than thirty men. Among these 
was the gallant General Mercer. Five hundred of the 
enemy were killed, wounded, and captured. Washington 
then put his army into winter quarters at Morristown, 
where he threatened the line of his enemy's supplies. To 
protect his stores, Cornwallis moved back to Amboy, and 
both armies took a rest for several months. 

Commissioners Sent to France. — Congress had sent Silas 
Deane, of Connecticut, to France, in the summer of 1776, 
as a commissioner to procure arms, ammunition, and other 
help for the United States. After the victory at Trenton, 
they enlarged their commission and sent to Paris Dr. 
Franklin and Dr. Arthur Lee, of Virginia, who was then in 
England acting as commissioner from the Commonwealth of 
Virginia. The principal object of these commissioners was 
to obtain recognition and alliance with France. They were 
informally received, and for some time had small success 
from the government ; but secret aid was given. A French 
sloop-of-war of twenty-four guns brought into an American 
port eleven thousand stand of arms and a thousand barrels 
of powder. Money was also advanced, on the promise of 
tlie commissioners that tobacco and other produce should 
be furnished in return for it. 

Decrease of the Army, 1777. — It was well for Washington 
that his position at Morristown was a strong one, for his 
army was dwindling away; and the re-enlistments and new 
troops ordered by Congress were coming in with painful 
slowness. It was not until the last of May, that he felt 
strong enough to move to Middlebrook. Here he declined 
to fight, but waited to see what his enemies were about 
to do. 

Effort to Seize the Hudson. — Another effort was now made 
to take possession of the Hudson by an army of British and 
Hessians from Canada, to whose aid the Indians also were 



182 History of the United States. 

summoned. Apprehending how formidable this under- 
taking would be, Washington constantly corresponded with 
General Schuyler, advising him to reconnoitre the country 
and the roads thoroughly, and to defend important points, 
where the enemy's advance might be impeded. He also 
sent him Colonel Morgan with five hundred mounted Vir- 
ginia riflemen, and what other troops he could spare under 
General Arnold. 

Howe Enters the Chesapeake. — It was not for some weeks 
that Howe's intention was understood. His army embarked 
at New York in a large fleet, and sailed away southward. 
That his object was to seize Philadelphia, Washington be- 
lieved, and moved his own army once more into Pennsyl- 
vania to meet him. When Howe reached the mouth of the 
Delaware, he learned that that river was defended by two 
strong forts, and by obstructions in the channel. He, there- 
fore, continued southward, entered the capes of Virginia, and 
sailed slowly up to the head of the Chesapeake Bay. When 
Washington learned where his enemy might be expected, 
he moved forward to meet him. 

Pulaski, DeKalb, La Fayette. — The American cause was 
now awakening much interest in Europe, and a number of 
young soldiers, ardent lovers of freedom, had made their 
way into the colonies. Of these. Count 
Pulaski, from Poland ; Baron DeKalb, from 
France, and the Marquis Gilbert Motier 
De La Fayette, a wealthy young nobleman, 
only twenty-three years old, joined Wash- 
ington on this march. All were true men, 
and did good service for the States ; but 
La Fayette became one of Washington's inti- 
mate friends to the day of his death. An- 
other young soldier. Major Henry Lee, of 
Virginia, also joined Washington at this time. He brought 
with him his cavalry corps, which afterwards became so 
efficient and famous, and from which he received the name 
of " Light Horse Ha^r3^" 

Battles of Brandywine and Germantown, 1777. — On his 
way to meet the British, Washington's army marched 
through Philadelphia, when the only thing like uniform 
his variously clad soldiers wore, was a sprig of green stuck 




LAFAYETTE. 




Aid from France. 183 

in their hats. There was great alarm in the city and coun- 
try at the approach of the British. Congress was already 
beginning to find fault with Washington's 
caution, and it was now determined to risk 
a battle for the defence of the capital city of 
the confederation. Tlie two armies came to- 
gether on the banks of the Brandywine Creek 
September 11th, the well-equipped British ^ /jl 
force about three thousand stronger than jtt^y 
the ill-provided American army. The fight- \C|/iVv 
ing was brave and persistent on both sides, '"^ 
but the British commander succeeded in henry lee. 
crossing a body of troops over the stream above the Ameri- 
cans, turning their right flank and attacking them in the 
rear, and a determined advance on the centre and left drove 
the Americans all along the line. Weedon's and Muhlen- 
berg's brigades checked the pursuit so that the army was 
enabled to retire in good order to Chester. In this battle 
the Americans lost about one thousand, the British 
five hundred and seventy-nine. Washington now with- 
drew through Philadelphia to Germantown. Howe's army 
took possession of the city on the 26th. The Americans 
were again defeated at Germantown early in October, 
and, late in that month, Forts Mercer and Mifflin on the 
Delaware were captured, after a vigorous defence and the 
loss of four hundred Hessians, and the river was opened to 
the enemy's vessels. 

AUTHORITIES.— Hildreth's History of the United States, Vol. III. ; Marshall's Life 
of Washington; Irvine's Life of Washington; Campbell's History of Virginia; Win- 
sor's Narrative and Critical History of the United States, Vol. VI. ; Fiske's History of 
the United States. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. Tell of Comwallis's advance against Washington. 2. The 
Battle of Princeton. 3. Wh(H-ft did Washington go into winter quarters ? 
4. Who were sent to France, and for what purpose ? 5. What discouragement 
did Washington have ? 6. What river did he fortify ? AVhat bay was now 
entered by the British? 8. Tell of the effect of the war on lovers of freedom 
in Europe. 9. Describe the battles of Brandywine and Germantown, 1777. 
10. Give a sketch of La Fayette. 11. Find the places on the maps. 



CHAPTER XXXII. 

BUROOTNE'S CAMPAIGN AND SURRENDER. 

Burgoyne's Advance from Canada. — General Burgoyne 
was advancing from Canada against General Schuyler in 
New York, with an army of nearly eight thousand splen- 
didly equipped soldiers and a fine supply of brass cannon 
and four hundred Indians. In addition to this army, was a 
force of seventeen hundred men under Colonel St. Leger, 
which was to move farther to the west, capture Fort Schuy- 
ler, near where the city of Rome now stands, and sweep 
through the Mohawk Valley to join Burgoyne. General 
Schuyler had used great diligence in preparing for the 
enemy by blocking up the roads, obstructing the channels 
of the streams, and fortifying weak points. On July 5, 
1777, Burgoyne occupied Ticonderoga, and on the 20th 
marched southward to Fort Edward, on the upper Hudson, 
which the small American army abandoned at his approach. 
Burgoyne sent a special messenger to England to announce 
his success. But he was now to find himself surrounded 
with difficulties. His march was through a wild, rugged 
country, where the roads were blocked up ; all the bridges 
were destroyed, and where it could be done, the dry land was 
flooded, and trees were felled in every direction, so that ad- 
vance was almost impossible. The cattle and supplies of the 
country were taken away, and Burgoyne's army had to sub- 
sist on what provisions it had with it. His horses and oxen 
were too few to haul his cannon and transport his food and 
ammunition also. 

Battle of Oriskany, 1777. — To add to his embarrass- 
ment, two serious disasters befell his forces. St. Leger's 
advance from Oswego upon Fort Schuyler proved a failure. 
At Oriskany, he was attacked, on August 6th, by General 
Herkimer with eight hundred militia, and suffered heavy 
loss. Herkimer was left in possession of the field. St. 
Leger, notwithstanding this disaster, proceeded to besiege 
the fort. Colonel Gansevoort, of the New York line, 
refused to surrender, and ran up an American flag just 

[184] 



Burgoyne's Campaign and Surrender. 



185 




BENNINGTON. 



adopted by Congress, made of alternate stripes of a woman's 
red flannel petticoat and a soldier's white shirt, while a 
piece of an old overcoat furnished the blue field. Schuyler 
sent General Arnold with eight hundred men to relieve 
Gansevoort. St. Leger lost control of his men, and the 
whole besieging force retreated in haste, on August 22d. 

Battle of Bennington. — While this disappointment was 
befalling his plans west of him, Burgoyne sent Colonel 
Baum with seven hundred men to seize the stores at Ben- 
nington, in Vermont, and scour the country for horse* and 
cattle. Six hundred and 
forty Hessians were also 
sent after Baum. General 
Washington, anticipating 
some movement of this sort, 
had sent General Lincoln to 
organize the patriot forces 
in that part of New Eng- 
land. General John Stark 
took command of fourteen 
hundredmilitia, and, on the morningof August 16th, attacked 
the British force on the flank and in the rear; while he himself 
led the main body forward with the encouragement, "■ Now, 
men, there are the red-coats. Before night they must be ours 
or Molly Stark will be a widow." The Americans rushed over 
the intrenchments, captured the guns, and drove Indians, 
tories, British, and Germans before them. Baum was mor- 
tally wounded ; two hundred and seven men were killed, 
seven hundred captured, and all the artillery, one thousand 
stand of small arms, and most of the baggage fell into 
Stark's hands. Forty of his men were killed and forty-two 
wounded. This victory and the success in the Mohawk 
Valley, encouraged the Americans as much as it depressed 
the invaders, who were in a desperate situation, and unable 
either to advance or retreat. The American army was daily 
receiving reinforcements from the nearer colonies. 

Murder of Miss McCrae. — Burgoyne's troubles were in- 
creased, by the brutal murder of Miss McCrae by some In- 
dians in his command. This younggirl, who was betrothed 
to a lieutenant in the British army, was staying with her 
friend, Mrs. O'Neil, at Fort Edward. Some Indians burst 



186 History of the United States. 

into the hoase, seized the ladies, and carried them off in differ- 
ent directions. Miss McCrae promised some of her captors a 
large reward if they would take her safely to the British 
camp. On the way, a quarrel arose between the savages, 
and one of them slew and scalped the unfortunate girl, and 
carried his bloody trophy to Burgoyne's camp, where it was 
recognized. The Americans, hearing of the massacre of the 
innocent girl, were excited by an earnest desire to avenge 
such wrong, and those who had been neutral before joined 
the patriot ranks. 

Schuyler Superseded by Gates. — Just at this time, when 
there was everything to encourage General Schuyler that 
his arduous labors would be crowned with victory, he was 
ordered by Congress to turn over his command to General 
Gates, and to come and answer to the charge of having neg- 
lected the defence of Fort Ticonderoga. Two things 
caused this change of generals at so critical a time. The 
old jealousy between New York and New England madetlie 
New England delegates in Congress hostile to Schuyler, and 
there was an opinion of Gates's military ability far higher 
than he deserved. Congress furnished to the new com- 
mander almost everything withheld from Schuyler, and his 
inefficiency was partly remedied by such able officers as Ar- 
iiold, Morgan, and Lincoln. Gates moved his army, six 
thousand strong, to Bemis Heights, w^est of the Hudson, 
which proved to be a very strong position. 

Battles Near Saratoga. — A bloody engagement took place 
between the two armies on September 19th. Gates show^ed 
little disposition to fight; but Arnold, who commanded on the 
left, sent Morgan and his riflemen to check the British ad- 
vance on his flank, and then took his w^hole force into ac- 
tion. If he had been reinforced, he might have won a com- 
plete victory. Gates, however, would neither reinforce him, 
nor allow him to renew the battle the next day, and in his ac- 
count of the engagement did not mention Arnold's name. 
He even deprived him of his command, and confined him 
to the camp. Both sides claimed the victory, and then 
waited for reinforcements. Tw^o thousand New England 
men came to join Gates. Burgoyne waited in vain for the 
approach of Sir Henry Clinton and his army from New 
York. Nothing was heard of them, and as the British were 



Burgoyne's Campaign and Surrender. 



187 



suffering from desertion, and from lack of food and forage, Bur- 
goyne, on October 7th, made an effort to break through the 
American lines. Three skilful generals, Fraser, Riedesel, 
and Phillips, led the attack. They advanced through the 
woods and hoped to take the Americans by surprise. They 
were perceived, and 
Morgan was again 
sent to check them 
on the right, while 
New York and New 
Hampshire soldiers at- 
tacked them on the 
left. The fighting was 
very hot, and Arnold 
could not remain in- 
active, but dashed into 
the field, took charge 
of his old division, and 
led them to victory. General Fraser, commanding on the 
British right, was shot by one of Morgan's riflemen, his 
men became disheartened, and by nightfall the British 
army engaged was defeated with the loss of seven hundred 
men, several officers, and all its artillery. The Americans 
lost two hundred men. 

Burgoyne's Surrender. — In the night, General Burgoyne 
retreated to Saratoga, where, on October 17th, he surren- 
dered his entire force of five thousand five hundred men, 
with cannon, small arms, clothing, and tents. This material 
gain was small in comparison with the encouragement which 
the victory gave to the Americans everywhere, and the re- 
spect for them which it aroused in Europe. 




GATES'S HEADQUARTERS. 



AUTHORITIES— Hildreth's History of the United States. Vol. III.; Marshall's 
Life of Washington; Irving's I.iife of Washington; Campbell's History of Virginia; 
Winsor's Narrative and Critical History of the United States, Vol. VI.; Fiske's His- 
tory of the United States. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. Tell of Burgoyne's advance from Canada. 2. What suc- 
cess did he have ? 3. What difficulties ? 4. Describe the battle of Oriskany. 
5. The battle of Bennington. 6. What brutal murder excited the attention of 
both parlies ? 7. What change in the army occurred at this time ? 8. Tell of 
the battles near Saratoga. 9. Their result and effects in America and Europe. 
10. Where is Saratoga ? 



CHAPTER XXXIII. 

VALLEY FORGE, MONMOUTH, WYOMING. 

Prisoners Taken to Virginia.— The prisoners taken at Sara- 
toga were first removed to New England, and afterwards to 
the neighborhood of Charlottesville, Virginia. If Sir Henry 
Clinton could have moved up the Hudson sooner, or Bur- 
goyne maintained himself a few days longer, the event 
might have been different. But God had not forsaken the 
Americans. The troops for the expedition were slow in 
crossing the Atlantic. Sir Henry left New York on October 
3d. The obstructions in the river were little check to his 
powerful fleet; but all of a sudden they heard that Burgoyne 
had surrendered, and retreated rapidly to New York. 

Conspiracy Against Washington. — On the other hand, 
Gates's success brought danger to the cause and much wrong 
to General Washington. Gates had proved himself devoid 
of courage, and had shown the jealousy of his character on 
various occasions. But he was full of vanity and arrogance, 
and as he had supplanted Schuyler, so he now entertained 
the hope of superseding Washington. There had, from the 
first, been a feeling of antagonism to Washington's eleva- 
tion; some of it sectional, some, no doubt, personal. Now 
the New England members of Congress, who had before 
favored Gates; the Pennsylvanians, who complained that 
there had not been enough effort to defend their State ; and 
a number of arm}^ officers, whose desire for promotion had 
been disappointed, set about a scheme to put Gates in Wash- 
ington's place. Principal among these was an Irish general, 
Conway, and the whole undertaking was known as the 
" Conway Cabal." To this scheme Gates lent himself wil- 
lingly. 

Sufferings at Valley Forge, 1777-8.— After the battle of 
Germantown and the destruction of the defences of the 
Delaware, Washington, in November, led his army into win- 
ter quarters at Valley Forge, about twenty miles from Phila- 
delphia. The hardships and sufferings of the army at this 
time are almost incredible. Until they could build rude huts 

[188] 



Valley Forge, Monmouth, Wyoming. 



189 



to shelter themselves, the men were exposed to the cold and. 
the snow, without tents, without blankets, without shoes, 
half-naked for clothing, and nearly starved for want of pro- 
visions. It is astonishing how the soldiers bore their pri- 
vations, and Washington the responsibility and anxiety 
which pressed upon him. It was just at this time that the 
Conway conspiracy was brought to his knowledge. He was 
much disturbed to find treachery and discontent added to 
the material difficulties which harassed him. 

Inefficiency of Congress. — All these troubles arose princi- 
pally from the inefficiency of Congress. As Governeur Mor- 




ris of New York wrote at 
the time: "The Continen- 
tal Congress and the cur- 
rency have greatly de- 
preciated." The paper 
money had become so 
worthless that people would not take it, and supplies of 
clothing were lying in different places, and could not begot- 
ten to the soldiers for want of money to pay for the hauling 
of them. Many of the wisest and best statesmen had left 
Congress to take part in organizing the government in their 



190 History of the United States. 

own States; some were in Europe, some were with the army, 
and those who still composed the body allowed themselves 
to be influenced by sectional prejudices and the intrigues 
of the Conway Cabal. Even John Adams wrote : " I am 
sick of Fabian systems." 

Washington at Valley Forge. — Providence was kinder to 
the American cause than her legislators were. General 
Washington was able to unfold and defeat the designs of 
Gates and his friends, and the best and truest men rallied to 
his support. He also persuaded General Greene to become 
the quartermaster-general, and under his supervision the 
providing for the wants of the army was better attended 
to, and affairs improved. Baron Steuben of Prussia ren- 
dered important service during the dark period by drilling 
and disciplining the soldiers after the manner of his native 
country. To cheer the general and his officers, Mrs. Wash- 
ington and the wives of other officers came to Valley Forge 
and shared all the privations of their husbands. The gen- 
eral's headquarters were at one Isaac Potts's. Going up the 
creek one day. Potts heard a man's voice as if in earnest 
conversation. Drawing near to see who was speaking in 
such a secluded spot, he saw General Washington on his 
knees, and heard him offering up heartfelt prayer for the 
freedom and success of the American cause. Deeply 
impressed, Potts returned home and told his wife that the 
cause was certain to succeed, because the Lord would surely 
answer Washington's prayer. 

United States Recognized by France. — The most impor^ 
tant result of Burgoyne's defeat was the recognition by 
France of the United States of America as an independent 
nation, which took place on the 6th of February, 1778. A 
treaty of friendship and alliance was signed in Paris and 
ratified by Congress. 

Evacuation of Philadelphia by the British, 1778. — The 
alliance with France made it necessary for the British to 
evacuate Philadelphia, for fear that the French fleet should 
blockade them there. Sir William Howe was ordered to 
England, and Sir Henry Clinton took his place. He 
removed his army from Philadelphia on the 18th ot June. 

Battle of Monmouth Courthouse. — His movements were 
so quietly made that Washington could not obtain certain 



Valley Forge, Monmouth, Wyoming. 191 

information of them, until the whole force was once more 
in New Jesey. Anticipating such a move, the New Jersey 
troops had been sent to defend their homes, and now Mor- 
gan was ordered to reinforce them with a picked corps. 
The American army followed; and General Charles Lee, in 
command of the advance, was directed to attack Clinton. 
On the 28th of June, the American army came up with 
Clinton. Lee did not choose to obey Washington's orders, 
and, after making a feeble attack, ordered his men to 
retreat. As Washington arrived with the rest of the army 
to push the attack, he was met by Lee's men. Aroused and 
enraged at this unexpected sight, he rode forward and 
angrily demanded the reason of their withdrawal. Lee 
gave him a disrespectful reply, on which Washington repri- 
manded him sternly for disobedience to orders. But there 
was little time for words. With the assistance of Lord 
Stirling and General La Faj'^ette, and the help of the artil- 
lery, the retreat was stopped, and the battle renewed until 
nightfall, when the Americans slept on the field and the 
British continued their retreat all night. This is known as 
the battle of Monmouth Courthouse. 

" Captain Molly." — The weather was very warm, and 
many of the soldiers were faint from the heat. A gunner 
named Pitcher becoming disabled, his wife Molly took his 
place and worked at the gun while the fight lasted. For 
this brave deed she received an honorary commission, and 
was known as " Captain Molly." The fight at Monmouth 
Courthouse was the last sustained battle in the Northern 
States, though it was some time before the armies withdrew 
from them. 

Trial and Dismissal of General Charles Lee. — General 
Lee was tried by court martial, was found guilty, and re- 
lieved from his command for a year. He then became so 
insolent that he was dismissed from the army. 

Indian Massacre at Wyoming, — \i\ July, the Indians from 
New York, under the command of Brandt, with his band of 
tory rangers, moved into the peaceful Valley of Wyoming, 
in Pennsylvania, and scattered fire and murder throughout 
the region. The whole valley was desolated; houses and 
crops were burned; men, women, and children were toma- 
hawked and scalped, and the most fiendish cruelties perpe- 



192 



History of the Lnited States. 



trated. Five thousand helpless people were driven from 
their homes, and, on the approach of a force sent against 
them by Washington, the murderers fled hastily back into 
Canada. A similar raid was made by Brandt, later in the 
year into Cherry Valley, in New York. 

Destruction of the Six Nations. — To punish these outrages 
and prevent their repetition. General Sullivan was sent next 
summer into western New York with three thousand men, 




SETTLERS FLEEING FEOM THE INDIANS. 



and was joined by General James Clinton with two thou- 
sand more, and the combined forces routed the army of In- 
dians and tories led by Butler and Johnson, and the Indian 
chiefs, Brandt, Red Jacket, and Cornplanter. The Americans 
then laid waste the Indian country, burning their villages and 
destroying their orchards and fields, so that the power of the 
Six Nations was completely broken. 

AUTHORITIES.— Hildreth's History of the United States, Vol. III.; Marshall's 
Life of Washington; Irving's Life of Washington; Campbell's History of Virginia; 
Winsor's Narrative and Critical History of the United States, Vol. VI.; Fiske s His- 
tory of the United States. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. Where were the Saratoga prisoners confined ? 2. What 
conspiracy was now formed ? 3. How did the army suffer at Valley Forge ? 
4. What was the state of Congress at this time ? 5. Tell of the winter at 
Valley Forge, and Washington's cheerfulness and trust. 6. What important 
event occurred on the Gth of February, 1778? 7. What effect did it have on 
the British in Philadelphia? 8. Describe the battle of Monmouth Court- 
house? 9. Tell of "Captain Molly." 10. What was the fate of Gen- 
eral Charles Lee? 11. What terrible massacre took place in July, 1778? 
13. What revenge followed ? 13. Look up all the places mentioned. 



CHAPTER XXXIV. 

FRENCH FLEET—CHEROKEE WAR IN THE SOUTH. 

Washington Returns to White Plains, 1778. — After defeat- 
ing the British in New Jersey, Washington took his army 
once more to its former position at White Plains, N. Y.; 
where he could watch Sir Henry Clinton's movements. 

Coming- of the French Fleet. — In July, a French fleet of 
eighteen war vessels, under Count D'Estaing, having four 
thousand soldiers on board, appeared off the mouth of Dela- 
ware Bay. Severe storms had delayed it until too late to 
catch Lord Howe's fleet in the Delaware, as had been in- 
tended. After communicating with General Washington, it 
was decided that an attack should be made upon the British 
force on Rhode Island. Combined attacks are always diffi- 
cult, and the land forces under General Sullivan were not 
ready when the French fleet appeared. By the time the 
preparations for the attack were completed, Lord Howe's 
fleet came in sight, and Count D'Estaing stood out to sea to 
meet him. A violent storm, which shattered and scattered 
both fleets, prevented the expected battle, and made it neces- 
sary for the vessels to go into port for repairs. Lord Howe 
returned to New York, and Count D'Estaing sailed to Boston 
harbor. 

British Raids. — A series of raids and marauding expedi- 
tions now occupied the British commanders. The towns and 
harbors along the coast of New Jersey, Massachusetts, and 
Connecticut were attacked by armed vessels, while bands of 
soldiers were sent up the river and into the country to plunder, 
burn, and destroy houses, manufactories and supplies. Those 
places, which had given shelter to the privateering vessels 
of the Americans, were visited with special vengeance. 

Fall of Savannah. — A British fleet sent out to operate against 
Count D'Estaing attempted to blockade him in Boston Har- 
bor, but another violent storm so injured the ships that they 
had to go to Rhode Island to refit, and the French fleet sailed 
away to the West Indies. Part of the British force at New 
York was also sent to the West Indies, and part to make an 
attack on Georgia. Savannah and most of the State soon fell 
into their hands. Washington was too far away to give any 
13 [ 193 ] 



194 



History of the United i^ates. 



material aid, but he sent General Lincoln to take command 
of the Southern Department. His own men were put into 
winter quarters along the highland between the mouth of 
the Hudson and the Delaware River. 

Indian Attacks in the Southern States. — In stirring up the 
Indians to carry on savage warfare against the whites, the 
British agents had been as active along the southern bor- 
ders as in the northern colonies. The Creeks, Cherokees, 
Choctaws, and Chickasaws were encouraged to commit in- 
roads and outrages, and were furnished with firearms and 
ammunition brought from England. The Stamp Act and 
the navigation laws were of little import to the frontier men, 
but the danger to their families and their homes aroused 
the spirit of liberty and self-defence among them. While 
their brethren, in the low country along the seacoast, fought 
with English and foreign regulars, they were called upon to 
contend for life and freedom with the cruel Indians and the 
miserable tories and white renegades who joined them- 
selves to the red men. 

Cherokee Outbreak, 1776. — In the summer of 1776, the 
Cherokees broke out in sud- 
den warfare all along the 
borders of Georgia and the 
Carolinas, up to the Wa- 
i^^ tauga settlements. Their 
^^^ inroads were marked with 
ruthless barbarity. The 
cattle and horses of the 
settlers were driven 
off, their houses were 
burned, their plantations 
desolated, and men, wo- 
men, and children massa- 
cred and scalped. As num- 
bers of the men in Georgia 
and South Carolina had 
been summoned to de- 
fend the coast country 
against the British, guns and ammunition were scarce 
for the defence of the stockade forts, into which the fright- 
ened people crowded. 




ATTACKED BY INDIANS. 



French Fleet. 



195 



Attack on Watauga. — The Watauga settlements were 
warned by an Indian squaw of the coming of seven hun- 
dred Cherokee warriors, and so had time to take refuge 
in their wooden forts. The hapless settlers, who did not 
reach these shelters, were tortured and butchered without 
mercy. A battle was fought on the Island Flats on the 
Holston River, in which the savages were defeated and fled 
in dismay. While this fight was going on, another band of 
Indians attacked the Watauga fort, which was crowded with 
women and children, with only some fifty men to defend them. 
But Robertson was in command, with Sevier as his lieutenant, 
and the soldiers were as determined and brave as their officers. 
For three weeks the siege of the fort lasted, during which 
time the people v/ithin it had only parched corn for their food. 
The Cherokees at length withdrew to their villages in the hills. 

Defeat of the Cherokees — Peace. — And now, the frontiers- 
men, from Virginia down, determined to take vengeance for 
their wrongs, and to inflict a punishment upon the Indians 
which should prevent the repetition of such outrages. The 
South Carolina and Georgia militia, under Colonel Andrew 
Williamson, marched upon the lower Cherokee towns, 
defeated and destroyed them. Rutherford and his North 
Carolinians joined Williamson. They crossed the moun- 
tains and attacked the Indians in their valley settlements. 
Success crowned the undertaking, and, by the last week in 
September, the more southern Cherokee settlements were 
wiped from the face of the earth, and the Indians were com- 
pelled to take refuge among the Creeks. The Virginians 
from Fincastle 
County, under 
Colonel William 
Christian, a s - 
sisted by some 
North Caroli- 
nians and the 
men who could 
be spared from 
the Watauga 
settlement, 
gathered at the great island of the Holston. By October 1st 
two thousand men had assembled. The Over Hill Cherokees 




INDIAN ACCOUTKEMENTS. 



196 History of the United States. 

assembled their warriors at the Big Island on the French 
Broad River. But they could not face the large number of 
white enemies, and fled in the night. The Virginians fol- 
lowed them to their towns, which they destroyed, together 
with the corn and other provisions. In the next season, 
treaties of peace were made between the Cherokees and the 
States, by which the latter gained considerably, and the 
Cherokees were so much crippled that they did not go to 
war for several years. 

AUTHORITIES.— Hildreth"3 History of the United States. Vol. III.; Winsor's Narra- 
tive and Critical History of the United States, Vol. VI. ; Irving's Life of Washington ; 
Roosevelt's Winning i>f the West; Campbell's History of Virginia; William Wirt 
Henry's Life of Patrick Henry. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. Where did Washington take the army? 2. What assist- 
ance came to America ? 3. What sort of ftghtiug did the British now do ? 
4. Tell of the naval engagements and of the fall of Savannah. 5. What spe- 
cial troubles were the Southern States suffering ? 6. Describe the Cherokee 
outbreak and their attack on Watauga. 7. What battle was fought on the 
Holston River? 8. Tell of the defeat of the Cherokees, and the final peace. 
9, Look for all the places mentioned as you come to them. 



CHAPTER XXXV. 

CLARKE' 8 TAKING OF THE NORTHWEST. 

Immigration to Kentucky, — Notwithstanding the difficul- 
ties of the journey and the danger from Indians, the prai- 
ries and forests of Kentucky attracted thither a continual 
stream of immigration, principally from Virginia. The 
immigrants were a sturdy, self-reliant race, who desired for 
their children a heritage of freedom and a strong, but inde- 
pendent government. 

Kentucky County Organized and Defended, 1776. — In 
1776 the men of the settlements sent Gabriel Jones and 
George Rogers Clarke to the convention, then sitting in 
Williamsburg, Va., to represent their need of some local 
government, and to ask that the country beyond the moun- 
tains, which was still a part of Fincastle County, might be 
set off into the county of Kentucky, with its own courts and 
county officers. When Jones and Clarke reached Botetourt 
they learned that the convention had adjourned. Jones 




Taking of tlie Northwest. 197 

joined Colonel Christian's expedition against the Chero- 
kees, but Clarke determined to go and see the governor, 
Patrick Henry, and try to get powder for the Kentuckians 
to defend themselves against the Indians, 
who were being urged by British agents to 
destroy them. Governor Henry was sick at 
his home, not very far from Clarke's native 
place in Albemarle County. His represen- 
tations induced Governor Henry to write 
and advise the council of Virginia to fur- 
nish Clarke with five hundred pounds of 
powder. The council at first declined, but 
Clarke said that if Virginia would not help 
them they would seek protection elsewhere, meaning from 
the Spaniards across the Mississippi River, and added that 
if a country was not worth protecting it was not worth 
claiming. The council had no intention of relinquishing so 
fair a portion of Virginia's possessions, and they ordered the 
commander at Fort Pitt, then in Virginia, to furnish Clarke 
with five hundred pounds of powder, to be taken down the 
Ohio to the Kentucky people. The legislature, which met 
in the fall, also set off the county of Kentucky, and gave a 
regular government to the people. 

Clarke's Plan to Take the Northwest, 1777. — The Indian 
attacks upon Kentucky came from north of the Ohio, and 
Clarke was convinced that they were stimulated, if not 
originated, by the British agents in that region. He, there- 
fore, conceived the idea that if some of the forts which 
governed the country were seized, the influence of the 
British would be destroyed. The whole territory was regu- 
lated from Detroit, and if that place could be captured the 
country would fall into American hands. When he learned 
that Burgoyne had been defeated and the invasion from 
Canada brought to an end, Clarke thought his plan might 
be practicable. He, therefore, went again to Virginia and 
laid the project before Governor Henry and three other 
leading Virginians — Thomas Jefferson, George Wythe, and 
George Mason. They were much pleased with the idea, and 
Clarke was empowered by the governor to raise three hun- 
dred and fifty men in the western counties for the purpose 
of capturing the forts at Kaskaskia and other points. 



198 History of the United States. 

Clarke's Expedition Down the Ohio, 1778. — It was the 

spring of 1778, before Clarke set out down the Ohio carrying 
the one hundred and fifty men he had raised for his enter- 
prise, and a number of emigrants with their families and 
worldly goods. Some of these settlers plunged into the 
new country, others stopped at the Falls of the Ohio, where 
the city of Louisville now stands. Here Clarke, for the 
first time, told his men the object of his expedition. Some 
of them became disheartened and deserted, but their places 
were more than supplied by the bold Kentuckians who em- 
braced the enterprise eagerly. On June 24th, the boats left 
the shore once more, just at the time of a total eclipse of the 
sun, which the men took as a good omen. Drifting and rowing 
as far as the mouth of the Tennessee River, they landed, and 
were met by some hunters who had just returned from the 
forts. It was a great help when these men joined the expe- 
dition. They told Clarke that the French inhabitants were 
dreadfully afraid of the backwoodsmen, and would assist the 
English, unless he could take them by surprise. 

Capture of Fort Kaskaskia, 1778. — With the hunters for 
guides, the men now plunged into the wilderness. By Jul}'- 
4th, they reached the neighborhood of Fort Kaskaskia, and 
captured a soldier who led them through a postern gate at 
night while a ball was going on. In a few moments, the 
fort, the men, and the commander, Rocheblane, were in 
Clarke's power without any blood being spilt. When the 
French inhabitants of the town and country learned that 
the Americans did not intend them any harm, and that the 
French king had become the ally of America, they made 
friends at once, and took the oath of allegiance to the States. 
Their militia joined Clarke and aided him in taking Caho- 
kia, where the people, likewise, accepted American rule. 
Clarke could not spare men to go to Vincennes, but the 
priest of Kaskaskia, Father Gibault, went up and advocated 
the American cause so successfully that the people there 
also hoisted the flag of the Continental government. Hear- 
ing of the wonderful success and power of the " Big Knives," 
the Indians, for many leagues around, came to Kaskaskia 
and made promises of friendship and peace. 

The British Garrison at Vincennes. — Hamilton, the British 
commander at Detroit, learned of the surrender of Vin- 



Taking of the Northwest. 



199 



cennes to the Americans, and determined to reconquer the 
whole country. He made preparations for seizing Vin- 
cennes, and went thither himself with five hundred whites 
and Indians. The fort was at once taken, since there was 
no garrison, and the French as readily submitted to King 
George as they had done to Congress. Clarke had only a 
little over a hundred men; but he had been drilling and ex- 
ercising them all the fall, and he now made the desperate 
resolve to attack and recapture Vincennes. Hamilton had 
five hundred soldiers well fortified and supplied, and never 
imagined that a handful of men would undertake a march 
in midwinter over a country half under water to attack him. 
So he let the Indians return to their villages, sent some of 
the militia home, and kept with him only about ninety 
whites and the same number of Indians. 

Clarke's March to Vincennes, 1779. — Information of this 
reduction of the garrison was brought to Clarke, and he 
determined to march upon Vincennes at 
once. He fitted up a little vessel with some 
small guns, and sent her with a crew of fifty 




men up 

t h e Wa- 

bash. 

With 130 

other 

m e n 

Clarke 

began his 

desperate 

march across two hundred and forty miles of a wilderness full 

of swollen streams. The swamps along the Wabash were 

flooded with water three feet deep. Through this water they 

waded for days, sometimes'up to their chins. Their provisions 

were gone and they could do no hunting. The bateau, which 

was their last hope, did not come, but still they kept bravely 



clakke's march to vincennes. 



200 History of the United States. 

on. But for two canoes which they picked up, and some rafts 
they made, many must have perished from exhaustion. 
The diary of one of the men kept at the time says : " Col- 
onel Clarke encouraged his men, which gave them great 
spirit. Marched on in the waters. No provisions yet. 
Lord, help us." 

Capture of the Fort, 1779. — At last they came, on the 
afternoon of February 23d, within hearing of the guns of 
the fort. The surprise was so complete that the garrison 
did not know an enemy was near, until a man was shot 
through one of the port-holes. On the next day, February 
24th, after being fired upon for twenty-four hours, the fort 
surrendered. A party coming with supplies for Vincennes 
was captured the next day and a great store of provisions 
secured. Clarke's vessel also came up, bringing a messen- 
ger from Williamsburg, bearing congratulations to him from 
the Virginia assembly for his success at Kaskaskia. 

Illinois Made a County of Virginia. — It was impossible to 
guard all the prisoners taken, so the greater part were released 
on parole, but Hamilton and the other officers were sent to 
Governor Henry in Virginia. Clarke's great desire was to 
march on Detroit, but so distant an expedition was impossi- 
ble. The territory taken from the British by Clarke w^as at 
once set off as the County of Illinois, with its local govern- 
ment like that of the other Virginia counties, and remained 
in possession of Virginia until she generously presented it 
to the United States. The British never again possessed 
themselves of the forts in Illinois, and when peace was at 
last made, it was in consequence of Clarke's conquest and 
Virginia's government of it, that the northw^est was given 
up to the United States. 

Clarke's Later Life. — Clarke fought afterwards in Vir- 
ginia, and again in the west, was made a brigadier-general, 
and died in 1818 in Kentucky, with which State he had 
identified himself early in her history. Virginia bestowed 
on him a large tract of land, and afterwards gave him a pen- 
sion sufficient to make him comfortable in his declining years. 

AUTHORITIES.— Hildreth's History of the United States, Vol. III.; Winsor's Nar- 
rative and Critical History of the United States, Vol. VI. ; Irving's Life of Washing- 
ton; Roosevelt's Winning of the West: Campbell's History of Virginia; William Wirt 
Henry's Life of Patrick Henry; Lee's Memoirs of the Campaigu in the Southern 
Department. 



Stony Point, Savannah, and Charleston. 201 

QUESTIONS.— 1. Tell of the immigration to Kentucky. 2, Who wished 
to organize it into a separate covmty ? 3. Who was governor of Virginia at 
this time? 4. Did Clarke succeed in his request? 5. What plan did Clarke 
now entertain against the British? 6. Tell of his expedition down the Ohio 
in 1778. 7. What move did the British under Hamilton then make ? 8. Do- 
scribe the march of Clarke and his men to Vincennes. 9. What was the end 
of the march and the attack? 10. What new county was added to Vir- 
ginia? 11. Tell of Clarke's later life. 12. Do you know where all these 
places are ? 



CHAPTER XXXVI. 

STONY POINT, 8A VANNAH, AND CHARLESTON. 

British Raids on the Coast, 1779. — The summer of 1779 
was spent by Sir Henry Clinton in marauding along the 
coast. Norwalk, Fairfield, and New Haven were pillaged 
and burned, the Chesapeake Bay was entered and Virginia 
ravaged. Apprehending another effort to seize the Hudson 
River, General Washington made special efforts to defend 
the principal points. A strong fortification was erected at 
West Point, one at Verplanck's Point, lower down, and an- 
other at Stony Point, just opposite. Before the latter could 
be completed, it was attacked in front by the vessels, and on 
land by a superior force of the British, who overpowered 
the small garrison, took the fort, and afterwards finished and 
made it ver}'- strong. 

Capture of Stony Point, 1779. — Washington was very 
much annoyed at his enemies holding this important 
defence of the river, and in July proposed to General 
AVayne, " Mad Anthony," as he w^as called from his 
daring rashness, to go with a picked force to surprise and 
capture Stony Point in the night. Wayne willingly under- 
took an exploit so much to his taste. He set out with a 
force of less than two hundred men, and reached the neigh- 
borhood of the fort just at nightfall. All the dogs in the 
neighborhood had been destroyed, that no barking might 
betray the approach of the soldiers. The men had their 
bayonets fixed and their guns unloaded, that no chance 
shot might awaken the sleeping garrison. A negro who 
knew the fort well guided them in. Twenty-two men 



202 



History of the United States. 



formed the "forlorn hope" which led the assault. There 
was sharp fighting for a little while, but the Americans 
scaled the walls and carried everything before them at the 
point of the bayonet, and the garrison surrendered at discre- 
tion. Of the forlorn hope seventeen men were killed or 
wounded. The American loss was ninet3^-eight ; that of the 
British six hundred and six. To hold Stony Point would 
require too many men, and Washington had the guns and 
stores removed, and the defences destroyed. Major Henry 




WAYNE AT STONY POINT. 



Lee, in an equally daring manner, attacked a British gar- 
rison at Pauhis Hook, not far from New York, and carried 
off one hundred and fifty-nine prisoners. 

Unsuccessful Siege of Savannah, 1779. — In the fall, Gen- 
eral Washington learned that the Count D'Estaing's squad- 
ron, flushed with victory in the West Indies, was again 
approaching the American coasts. He thought that, with 



Stony Point, Savannah, and Charleston. 



203 



the assistance of the French fleet, he could capture New 
York and destroy the British force in the north. But his 
hopes were again disappointed. D'Estaing was persuaded 
to co-operate with General Lincoln in an attempt to recover 
Savannah from the British. After a siege of three weeks, 
an unsuccessful assault was made. Both the French and 
Americans lost severely. D'Estaing was wounded. Count 
Pulaski slain. The Americans retreated towards Charleston 
and the French embarked and sailed away. Hearing of this 
reverse. General Washington dispatched the North Carolina 
and Virginia troops southward, and put the small remainder 
of his army into winter quarters at Morristown. 

Washington and Congress. — The sufferings of the army 
were even greater than they had been at Valley Forge. 
General Washington 
had striven in vain 
to arouse the countr}^ 
and Congress to a 
sense of the need of 
strong and efficient 
measures, in order to 
strengthen his ranks 
and provide for the 
soldiers. The Conti- 
nental money was 
daily growing more 
worthless. Forty dol- 
lars would not buy a 
dollar's worth of any- 
thing. Congress was 
so jealous of military 
power that they would 
not consent to any re- 
forms proposed b} 
General Washington 
for the better regu- 
lating and supplying 
of the army. There was no food for the soldiers, except 
what was impressed from the surrounding country, which 
was of course greatly exhausted. To add to Washington's 
troubles, there was a constant strife in Philadelphia between 




PULASKI MONUMENT. 



204 History of the United States. 

the Pennsylvania authorities and General Arnold, who had 
been put in command of the post there. The legislature 
complained to Congress, and Arnold was censured by that 
body. Every thing seemed to be at cross purposes. 

Arnold at Philadelphia. — While the soldiers were starving 
the speculators were making money, and there was luxury 
and revelry in Philadelphia. During the winter Arnold 






'i^M0A 








CHARLESTON. 



married Miss Shippen of Philadelphia and lived very expen- 
sively. 

Return of La Fayette to America, 1780. — It was well that 
Washington had sent his Southern troops home, for the 
main effort of the British from this time was directed 
against the Carolinas and Virginia. The return of La 
Fayette from a visit to France was the greatest comfort 
which Washington had at this gloomy season; especially as 
the marquis brought the welcome intelligence that another 
French fleet and a body of soldiers, under Count Rocham- 
beau, M^ould soon come to the assistance of the Americans. 



Stony Point, Savannah, and Charleston. 205 

Attack on Charleston and Capture of Monk's Corner, 
1780. — Sir Henry Clinton sailed in January for the coast of 
South Carolina, and moved cautiously upon Charleston. 
General Lincoln was in Charleston with all the troops he 
could collect, 2,000 Continentals and 1,000 North Carolina 
militia. With a high tide, the British war ships sailed over 
the bar, and then passed Fort Moultrie in spite of its guns. 
General Woodford brought 700 Virginia troops, who had 
marched five hundred miles in thirty days, to aid General 
Lincoln. Sir Henry Clinton also received reinforcements 
of 2,500 men under Lord Rawdon and was able to invest the 
city on all sides. He also sent his cavalry, under Colonel 
Tarleton and Major Ferguson, to the northward to break up 
the militia posts and to cut Lincoln's lines of communi- 
cation. Led by a negro whom they captured, the British sur- 
prised in the night the fortified camp at Monk's Corner. 
Some officers and men were killed. Huger, Washington, 
and most of the men escaped in the darkness to the swamps. 
Other smaller posts and gatherings of soldiers were sur- 
prised and broken up by Tarleton, who was rapid in his 
movements and merciless to his enemies. 

Surrender of Charleston, 1780. — It was impossible to con- 
tinue the defence of Charleston, and, on the 12th of May, 
General Lincoln capitulated. He surrendered 2,000 Conti- 
nental troops. But the British claimed all the citizens and 
militia as prisoners, and the whole number was 5,618. 

Dark Days for the Americans.— This was a heavy blow to 
the Americans. Their cause had never looked so hopeless 
before. The money troubles were growing worse daily. 
The Connecticut and New Jersey troops under Washington 
broke out into, mutiny and declared they would disband and 
go home if something were not done to pay for their ser- 
vices and provide for their necessities. Washington again 
made every effort to arouse Congress to more efficient ac- 
tion. Private aid was given to relieve the needs of the sol- 
diers, and some ladies of Philadelphia sent General Wash- 
ington seven or eight thousand dollars to lay out as he 
thought best for his men. Congress was as slow as ever in 
acting for the public relief, and, without consulting the com- 
mander-in-chief, sent General Gates from his home in Vir- 
ginia to take command of the Southern Department, 



206 History of the United States. 

Count Rochambeau, with his forces and a fine fleet, reached 
New York on July 10th. As they were all to be under 
Washington's command, this was a most important addi- 
tion to his strength. He was anxious to attack New York, 
but the coming of a British fleet and the weakness of his 
own army obliged him to delay. 

AUTHORITIES — Hildreth's History of the United States, Vol. Ill ; Winsor's Nar- 
rative and Critical History of the United States, Vol. VI.; Irving's Life of Washing- 
ton ; Roosevelt's Winning of the West; Campbell's History of Virginia; William Wirt 
Henry's Life of Patrick Henry ; Lee's Memoirs of the Campaign in the Southern 
Department. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. Tell of the British raids in 1779. 2. What strong point 
was captured by General Wayne? 3. Describe it. 4. What imsuccessful 
.siege was made in the south'? 5. What distinguished man was killed? 
(i. Tell of the dilliculties between Congress and the commander-in-chief. 
7. Of Arnold's life in Philadelphia. 8. Who returned to America at this 
time? 9. What important port was attacked by Sir Plenry Clinton in 1780? 
10. Tell of Tarleton and Monk's Corner. 11. Could Charleston resist Clin- 
ton's attack? 12. How did things look now for the Americans? 13. Tell 
some of the troubles. 14. Be aure you know where all the places are. 



CHAPTER XXXVn. 

ARNOLD'S TREACHERY— THE WAR IN THE SOUTH. 

Treachery of Benedict Arnold. — At this time the country 
was shocked to learn that General Benedict Arnold, who 
had been so daring and efficient an officer, had turned traitor 
to the American cause. He had gotten into debt in Phila- 
delphia, and had been censured for misconduct by the legis- 
lature of Pennsylvania. This made him very angry, and 
he determined to revenge himself and get money for paying 
his debts by selling some place of importance to the British. 
He was esteemed so highly as a soldier that when he asked 
to be put in command of the fort at West Point, on the Hud- 
son River, the place was immediately given to him. He 
then made an agreement with Sir Henry Clinton to deliver 
up AVest Point to him at a given time, if he would pay well 
for it. The correspondence -^^as carried on by Major Andre, 
Clinton's Aide. At length it was necessary that Arnold and 
Andre should meet to decide upon the details of the plot. 
The British ship in which Andre came to the vicinity of 



Arnold^s Treachery. 207 

West Point dropped down the river again, and after ar- 
ranging for the transfer of the fort, he was obliged to return 
to New York by land. 

Capture and Execution of Andr^. — On his way back Andre 
was stopped by three patriots, Paulding, Williams, and Van 
Wert. They searched him and found the plan of the fort 
and the agreement for its surrender in his stocking. Andre 
tried to bribe the men to let him go, but Paulding said they 
would not do it for ten thousand guineas. They took him 
to the nearest American post, and he was, by General Wash- 
ington's directions, tried and hung as a spy. In vain the 
unfortunate young man begged that he might be shot, and 
Sir Henry Clinton tried to procure his release. The British 
had in 1776 hung Captain Nathan Hale of the American 
army, and it was thought best that Andre should be treated 
in the same way. He met his fate bravely, admired and la- 
mented by both enemies and friends. Arnold, unfortunately, 
escaped to the British, who made him a general and paid 
him a large sum of money, but no one ever respected him 
again. He showed his evil character by ravaging and ill- 
treating his native country, and died in obscurity, dishon- 
ored and unregretted. 

Waxhaws Disaster in South Carolina, 1780. — While these 
things were going on in New York, the American cause had 
suffered severe checks in South Carolina. 
On May 29th, on the banks of the Wax- 
haws, the patriot force under Colonel Buford 
suffered a severe defeat. Even the men who 
surrendered were cut to pieces by Tarleton's 
butchers. One hundred and thirteen men 
were killed on the spot, and one hundred 
and fifty butchered, mangled, and mortally 
wounded. Buford and Washington, with 
one hundred men, escaped. The whole 
British loss was five killed and fifteen wounded. Their 
slaughter of their enemies was, therefore, unprovoked cru- 
elty. 

Sumter, Marion, Pickens, Clarke, "Light-Horse Harry" 
Lee. — Sir Henry Clinton thought he had conqured South 
Carolina, and issued a proclamation calling on the people 
to return to their allegiance. The weak-hearted accepted 




208 



History of the United States. 



the invitation, and numbers of negroes left tlieir masters 
and their homes to follow the British. The great majority 
of the population, however, were true to the American cause. 
Carolina was by no means conquered. Partisan bands of 
soldiers, under such leaders as Sumter, Marion, Pickens, 
and Clarke, kept up a guerrilla warfare with great success. 
Every small body of British troops, every detached post, was 
sure to be attacked by one or another of them. Francis Ma- 
rion was as quick in moving and as bold in attacking as Tarle- 
ton, and, knowing the country better, could escape and dis- 
appear as suddenly as he came. So skilful were he and 
his men in hiding in the forests and swamps when hard 

pressed, that Tarleton's men 
called him the " Swamp Fox." 
Sumter, more open in his bold 
dashes, was known as " The 
Game Cock." Sumter's men 
were at first poorly armed with 
swords made from saws and 
with knives fastened to poles for 
lances. The bullets for such guns 
as they had were supplied by 
melting pewter dishes and other 
utensils. But their bold spirit and 
determined patriotism made these 
rude weapons effective to the de- 
struction of many well-armed enemies. Lieutenant-Colonel 
Henry Lee had also come, with his famous Legion of Light- 
Hoi'se, to encourage and help the South Carolina patriots. 
He and his men did gallant service in withstanding the 
British. He greatly admired the deeds of the guerrilla 
bands, and co-operated with them in many daring enter- 
prises against the enemy. 

AUTHORITIES.— Hildreth'9 History of the United States. Vol. III.; Winsor's Nar- 
rative and Critical History of tlie United States. Vol. VI.; Irving's Life of Washing- 
ton; Roosevelt's Winning of the West; Campbell's History of Virginia; William 
U'irt Henry's Life of Patrick Henry; Lee's Memoirs of the Campaign in the Southern 
Department. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. Relate the story of Arnold's treachery. 2. The capture 
and execution of Major Andre. 3. Who were the three men who captured 
him ? 4. Why was he hung instead of being shot ? 5. Tell of the Waxhaws 
disaster in South Carolina. 6. Give an account of the guerrilla warfare of 
Marion, Sumter, Pickens, Clarke. 7, Who was " Light- Horse Harry" Lee? 
8. Find the places mentioned. 




CHAPTER XXXVIII. 

KING'S MOUNTAIN. 

Battle of Camden, 1780. — General Gates reached South 
Carolina late in July. Fourteen hundred Maryland and 
Delaware soldiers under Baron De Kalb were already on the 
ground, which, with the Virginia and North Carolina mili- 
tia, made a force of about three thousand men. Gates soon 
showed his incompe- 
tence. He did not 
know that Cornwallis 
had reinforced Lord 
Rawdon, who was in 
his front, and deter- 
mined to fight. When 
he learned that Lord 
Cornwallis was there 
with his troops. Gates 
did not know what to 
do ; but it was too late 
to change his plan. 
The battle was fought 
near Camden, South 
Carolina, on August 
16th. The American 
militia, terrified by 
the bayonet charge of Ss;^ 
the British regulars, 
threw down their muskets and fled panic-stricken from the 
field. In vain Gates and the other officers tried to rally their 
men and were borne off in the retreat. The brave De Kalb 
received several mortal wounds and died a martyr to the 
cause of liberty. 

Defeat at Fishing" Creek, 1780. — A few days after the 
defeat at Camden, Tarleton surprised Sumter's camp at 
Fishing Creek, killed and wounded 350 of the men, and 
captured all the arms and baggage and a number of 
prisoners and supplies which Sumter had taken from 
H [ 209 J 




BATTLEFIELDS IN THE SOUTH. 



210 History of the United States. 

the British not long before. Sumter himself escaped, 
half dressed, on an unsaddled horse, with nearly four hun- 
dred of his men. 

Retreat of Gates. — Gates had not stopped in his retreat 
from Camden until he reached Hillsborough, in North Caro- 
lina, where he collected one thousand of his scattered force. 
Lord Cornwallis thought he had subjugated South Carolina 
and moved after Gates, intending to conquer North Caro- 
lina and then overcome Virginia. He kept Tarleton and 
his rangers to scour the country west of him, and sent Fer- 
guson with twelve hundred men towards the mountains to 
rouse the tories and put down the rebels. The men of the 
Watauga and Holston settlements had sent two hundred 
mounted riflemen, under Isaac Shelby, to aid their country- 
men in western North Carolina. After the American defeat 
at Camden, these men went home. Ferguson sent word to 
Shelby that he was coming over the mountains to destroy 
the settlements and kill their leaders. This message bore 
Ferguson a bloody consequence. 

Rendezvous at Watauga Sycamore Shoals. — When the 
men at Holston and Watauga learned that Ferguson 
had come to the foot of the mountains, they determined 
not to await him in their homes, but to seek and de- 
stroy him before he reached their valleys. Messengers 
were sent in all haste to Colonel Campbell, of Washington 
County, Virginia, praj'ing him to join them. The meet- 
ing-place was at the Watauga Sycamore Shoals. Here 
assembled, on September 25th, four hundred Virginians 
under Colonel Campbell, two hundred and forty from 
Watauga under Sevier, two hundred and forty from Holston 
under Shelby, and one hundred and sixty North Carolina 
refugees under Colonel McDowell. Before they marched the 
next day, Samuel Doak, " the pioneer parson," blessed them, 
telling them to " go forth with the sword of the Lord and of 
Gideon." Once over the mountains, they were joined by 
others until they numbered one thousand eight hundred 
and forty. The men were mostly well mounted and were 
armed with tomahawks, scalping knives, and small-bore 
rifles, which they used with great skill. The command of 
the force was given to Colonel Campbell, who had brought 
the largest number of men, 



King's Mountain. 



211 



Advance Against Ferguson. — Ferguson heard of their 
coming, and sent to Cruger, in South Carolina, for reinforce- 
ments, while he withdrew to King's Mountain, where he 
stationed himself so strongly that he boasted that "all the 
rebels of hell " could not drive him from it. Hearing of 
Ferguson's move, the mountaineer warriors were afraid he 
might escape them. Campbell; therefore, picked out nine 
hundred and ten of the best men, the best horses, and best 
rifles, and set out from the Cowpens for a forced march of 
fifty miles, leaving the rest to follow as they were able. The 
fifty miles were made in eighteen hours, through darkness, 




BATTLE OF KING'S MOUNTAIN. 



mud, and rain. Fifty riflemen on foot also made this 
tremendous march, and kept up with the horsemen. Learn- 
ing Ferguson's position, Campbell surrounded the hill and 
attacked at once. The men dismounted and tied their 
horses to the trees, with their blankets and coats fastened 
on the saddles. The order w^as given that each man should 
look well to the priming of his rifle, and then go into the 
battle and fio'ht till he died. 

Battle of king's Mountain, 1780. — Although the approach 
of the Americans had been known, their attack came sud- 
denly at last. The British fought stoutly, but could do lit- 
tle with their bayonets against a foe who took deadly aim 
from behind every tree and who fired upon them in front, 



212 



History of the United States. 



flank, and rear. Colonel Ferguson fell, pierced with seven 
balls, and his second in command soon surrendered. The 
whole force of 1,1-50 men was killed or captured, and 
a large supply of arms secured. The patriots who 
gained this victory had marched and fought on their own 
responsibility without orders from Congress, commander, 
or State. They held a court martial directly after the bat- 
tle, and tried and hung ten captured tories as enemies to 
their country; then gave up their prisoners and spoils to the 
proper authorities, and returned quietly to their homes. 

Effect of the Victory. — The victory at King's Mountain was 
the taming point in the war in the South. News of it fired the 
patriots everywhere to new efforts. Sumter, Marion, Lee, and 
the other partisan leaders again took the field. It required 
Tarleton's best efforts to watch and contend with them. 
A Visit to Marion's Camp. — A story is told of a British 

oflficer w h o 
was sent to 
Marion's 
camp under 
a flag of truce 
to arrange 
the exchange 
of some pris- 
on e r s . Ma- 
rion received 
]i i m courte- 
ously, and in- 
vited him to 
s h a re the 
dinner which 
was nearly 
read3^ When 
the repast 
was served, it 
was some 
roasted sweet 
potatoes 
dished up on 

a shingle. "Surely, General," the Englishman inquired, "this 
is not your usual fare?" " Indeed it is," replied Marion, "but 




MARION'S DINNER TO TUB BRITISH OFFICER. 



Cowpens, Guilford, Eutaw Springs. 213 

to-day we ha^ more than we commonly do, in honor of your 
company." The officer was so much impressed with the 
cheerful devotion of the men he saw, that he reported to his 
friends that the country could never be conquered as long 
as she had such defenders. 

Defeat of Tarleton at Blackstocks, 1780. — Tarleton was 
called off from contending with Marion to go and destroy 
the " Game Cock." He came up with Sumter at Black- 
stocks, on the Tyger River, on the 20th of November. A 
fierce fight took place, in which the British were severely 
handled, and Tarleton retreated, leaving his wounded in the 
enemy's hands. Finding South Carolina again alive with 
hostile bands and his communications threatened, Cornwal- 
lis was forced to retreat from North Carolina, and marched 
southward to Camden, instead of northward into Virginia. 

AUTHORITIES.— Hildreth's History of the United States, Vol. III.; Winsor's Nar- 
rative and Critical History of the United States, Vol. VI. ; Irving's Life of Washington ; 
Marshall's Life of Washington; Roosevelt's Winning of the West; Lee's Memoirs of 
the Campaign in the Southern Department; Fiske's History of the United States; 
Appleton's Encyclopedia. 

QUESTIONS. — 1. Who now came to command the forces m the South? 
2. Tell of the battle of Camden. 3. What brave foreigner was slain, "a 
martyr to the cause of liberty " ? 4. Tell of the surprise of Sumter's camp 
at Ftshing Creek. 5. Retreat of Gates and the advance of Cornwallis. 
6. What message did Ferguson send to Shelby"? 7. What did the Watauga 
men decide to do? 8. What forces assembled, and where? 9. Where did 
Ferguson station himself ? 10. How did the Americans attack him ? 11. De- 
scribe the battle of King's Mountain. 13. How did the patriots act after it 
was over? 18. What was the effect of the victoi-y? 14. Tell of the Britis^^h 
officer's visit to IMarion's camp. 15. Where and when was Tarleton defeated ? 
16. What effect did all this have on Oomwallis ? 17. Find all the places on 
the map. 



CHAPTER XXXIX. 

COWPENS. GUILFORD, EUTAW SPRINGS. 

General Greene in the South, 1780. — After Gates was de- 
feated at Camden, Congress ordered him from the field and 
requested General Washington to a]3point his successor to 
command the Southern Department. Washington gave the 
position to General Greene, who more nearly resembled 
himself in military capacity than any other American 



214 History of the United States. 

general. Greene moved southward, stopping to arrange for 
men and supplies from the States through whi^h he passed. 
When he reached Charlotte, where Gates was, he found only 
some twenty-three hundred men, half of them militia, and 
all without proper equipments, ill-clothed and ill-fed — an 
undisciplined, disorderly mob. Greene reorganized his 
army and then moved it to a more healthy position, where 
it could be better fed. Like Washington, he did not risk 
his men in pitched battles, but assailed the smaller bodies 
of the British and wore them out by constant attack. His 
own force was in the northeastern part of the State, near 
Cheraw, and he detached General Morgan with one thou- 
sand men to threaten Cornwallis's other flank. Cornwallis 
was anxious to march again to Virginia, and sent Tarleton 
after Morgan with eleven hundred choice troops. Morgan 
learned that Tarleton was coming in pursuit of him, and 
that Cornwallis was also moving in his direction. He, 
therefore, selected what he thought a good fighting ground 
at " The Cowpens," where his militia could find no place to 
hide, and where they must fight or be killed. 

Battle of "The Cowpens," 1781. — Tarleton came on, 
marching night and day, while Morgan's men had a good 
rest before the British appeared. Taking position on a 
small hill, Morgan placed the Carolina militia in front, 
and told them to wait till the enemy was close up to them, 
then to fire two volleys with good aim and fall back. 
Behind them were Colonel Howard's Maryland regulars 
and the Virginia riflemen. The third line of cavalry was 
over the crest of the hill, where it was not seen. The 
British line rushed on with shouts. Morgan's skirmishers 
fired well and fell back to the militia. These, too, fired 
with much effect, and then fell back before the British 
bayonets. At the second line, there was sharp fighting. As 
Howard's men were thrown into some confusion, Morgan 
ordered them to fall back behind the cavalry and re-form. 
The British, seeing their foes retiring over the hill, thought 
the day was theirs and pursued in a disorderly mass. Their 
astonishment was great, when Colonel Washington's dra- 
goons charged furiously upon them. In a little while, a 
/panic seized the British, who fled in terror, and the victory 
was complete. 



Cowpens, Guilford, Eutaw Springs, 



215 



killed and sixty- 
hundred and ten. 



Its Results. — With a loss of twelve 
wounded the Americans had killed one 
wounded two hundred, and 
captured six hundred of their 
opponents; and had taken two 
cannon, eight hundred mus- 
kets, and one hundred horses, 
and all the baggage ot the 
enemy. The moral effects of 
this success were far greater 
than the material ones. In- 
stead of Morgan's destruc- 
tion, Cornwallis learned that 
Tarleton's force had been 
almost annihilated, and that 
Morgan was making his way 
safely northward. In a few 
days, General Leslie brought 
Cornwallis between two 
and three thousand re- 
inforcements, and he de- 
termined to hurry after Mor- 
gan and cut off his retreat, r^,^^^ 
General Greene also rode a 
hundred miles across the 
country to join Morgan, leaving General Huger to bring on 
his army more leisurely. 

Greene's Masterly Retreat, 1781. — Eager to come up with 
his enemy, Cornwallis, on January 25th, destroyed all his 
own baggage and stores, so that his army might be in 
"light marching order." The two days necessary for this 
gave Greene a good start. But at times the march was very 
close. Heavy rains swelled the rivers, and the mud made 
the roads almost impassable, but these difficulties impeded 
one army as much as the other. The Yadkin and the Dan 
Rivers were crossed by the Americans just as their pursuers 
came in sight, and it was only the lack of boats that pre- 
vented immediate battle. Once over the Dan River, Greene 
was in Virginia, where Cornwallis did not yet venture to fol- 
low him. The British, therefore, returned to Hillsborough, 
and Cornwallis issued a proclamation inviting the people to re- 




MOKGAN'S MONUMENT AT SPARTANBURG. 



21 6 History of the United States. 

turn to their allegiance to the king. General Greene sent 
Pickens and Light-Horse Harry Lee to hover around the 
British, cut off their foraging parties, encourage the patriots, 
and dishearten the tories. Greene himself, having been 
joined by Stevens with six hundred Virginia militia, moved 
to Guilford Courthouse, near the present town of Greens- 
boro, North Carolina. Here he was further reinforced, until 
his whole army was four thousand two hundred and forty- 
three infantry and artillery and one hundred and sixty-one 
cavalry. Of these only one thousand six hundred and sev- 
enty were regulars, the rest raw militia. Cornwallis, who 
determined to fight Greene wherever he found him, had 
only twenty-four hundred, but they were all skilled vete- 
rans. The artillery of the two armies was about equal. 

Battle of Guilford Courthouse, 1781. — On the morning of 
March 15th the armies joined battle. Greene had excellent 
ground on the slope of a hill, and had placed his men in 
three lines. Cornwallis had only one line, with no reserves 
except some dragoons under Tarleton. In spite of the 
favorable position of Greene's front line, the approach of the 
British terrified the militia, they fired a little at random, 
and then fled. The second line let the fugitives through, 
and then checked the onslaught of the British with a de- 
structive fire. At the third line a fierce fight took place. 
The first Maryland and Washington's cavalry put the 
British to flight. Victory seemed assured to the Ameri- 
cans, when Cornwallis had a shower of grape shot hurled 
into the confused mass of his flying grenadiers and the 
Americans in pursuit of them. His officers remonstrated 
that their own men would be slain. " True," replied the 
British commander, " but it will save us from destruction." 
Greene's policy of saving his men caused him to withdraw 
them from the murderous artillery fire, which was done in 
good order. On the strength of this withdrawal, Cornwallis 
wrote home that he had gained a great victory. But the 
American loss was small. That of the British was over five 
hundred, among them many of their most efficient officers. 

Greene's Return to South Carolina. — Meantime Greene 
was moving towards his friends ; Cornwallis had none, and 
his communications were all unsafe from the incessant 
attacks of Lee and the partisan leaders. Retreat was, there- 



Cowpens, Guilford, Eutaw Springs. 217 

fore, a necessity for him, and he moved off in the direction 
of Wihnington with liis half-starved men. Greene moved 
to assist South Carolina, where the patriot forces were active 
and bold, carrying post after post by assault. Greene was 
unable to take the very strong fort at Ninety-Six. Failing 
in this, he led his army to the hills of the Santee, where 
they rested and recruited their exhausted strength. 

Ride of Emily Geiger. — AVhile Greene was resting, Emily 
Geiger, a Carolina girl only eighteen years old, carried a 
message from him to General Sumter across a country so 
full of British and tories that no man could have passed 
through it safely. With a message and a letter, she 
mounted her horse and galloped away. When stopped by 
tories she swallowed the letter, then made her way to Sum- 
ter and delivered her message, which produced such a 
movement of all the American forces as compelled Rawdon 
to evacuate his posts up the country and retreat to Charles- 
ton. 

Battle of Eutaw Springs, 1781.— The last battle in South 
Carolina took place at Eutaw Springs Septerdber 8th, be- 
tween two armies, each about two thousand three hundred 
strong. The Americans attacked, and swept all before them, 
the militia fighting as stoutly and persistently as the regu- 
lars. When they penetrated to the enemy's camp, they 
thought the day was won, and fell to feasting on the unusual 
luxuries found there. The English officers rallied their 
men, attacked in their turn, and did great damage. Greene 
was unable to dislodge them from a brick house in which 
they had sheltered themselves, and from which they fired 
incessantly, and he withdrew from their camp. In this 
varying battle, the British lost six hundred and thirty-three. 
The Americans lost five hundred and thirty-five, but Colonel 
Campbell was killed and most of their officers wounded. 
The British were obliged to retire from Eutaw Springs to 
Charleston, and the war in the Carolinas was virtually 
done. Congress passed a vote of thanks to Greene and his 
men, and presented him with a gold medal, 

AUTHORITIES.— Hildreth^ History of the United States, Vol. III. ; Winsor's Narra- 
tive and Critical History of the United States, Vol. VI. ; Irving's Life of Washington; 
Marsliall's Life of Washington ; Campbell's History of Virginia; Roosevelt's Winning 
of the West ; William Wirt Henry's Life of Patrick Henry , Lee's Memoirs of the Cam* 
paign ia the Southern Department; Fiske's History of the United States. 



218 History of the United States. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. Who now took command of the Southern army? 
2. What were his plans and movements? 3. Relate the battle of the Cowpeiis. 
4. Who were the two commanders? 5. What were its results? 6. Follow 
Greene's line of retreat. 7. Describe the battle of Guilford Courthouse. 
8. Who claimed the victory? 9. Where did Greene now go? 10. Relate the 
story of Emily Geiger. 11. Tell of the battle of Eutaw Springs. 13. When 
did it occur? 13. Have you found the places on the map? 



CHAPTER XL. 

THE WAE IN VI RO INI A. 

Devastation in Virginia, 1781. — The current of the war 
now set towards Virginia, Anexpedition was sent thither, in 
January, 1781, to destroy the stores and shipping of the 
State and inflict as much injury as possible. This force of 
about sixteen hundred men was under command of the 
traitor Arnold. A number of the men were American de- 
serters, and both the general and his soldiers seemed 
anxious to show their hatred of the cause which they had 
betrayed. Washington had warned the Virginians of this 
movement against them, but little had been done to prepare 
for it, and Arnold went where he pleased, burning and de- 
stroying both public and private property. In the latter 
part of March, General Phillips brought a reinforcement of 
two thousand men from New York to Portsmouth, and took 
command there. Coming up James River to City Point, Phil- 
lips took possession of Petersburg. A great destruction of 
tobacco was made, and a number of vessels belonging to 
the Virginia navy were burned at Petersburg and other places. 
Stores of all kinds were hunted up and burned, and an 
advance was made upon Richmond by way of Manchester 
where twelve hundred hogsheads of tobacco were burned. 

La Fayette Sent to Virginia. — When Washington learned 
that active war was to be carried on in Virginia, he sent La 
Fayette to take command there. Twelve hundred regulars 
from the New England and New Jersey troops came with 
him. These soldiers were unwilling to go southward and 
began to desert. La Fayette made a strong appeal to them, 
and provided them in Baltimore, at his own expense, with 
clothing suitable for the summer campaign. To these regu- 



The War in Virginia. 219 

lars were added several thousand militia collected by the 
exertions of General Nelson and others; and when Phillips 
was about to cross the river at Richmond, he found La 
Fayette strongly posted for its defence with a force of forty- 
six hundred men. He did not venture to attack the place 
and retired at once, going to his ships. La Fayette followed 
him cautiously to watch his movements. 

Arrival of Cornwallis. — Phillips went towards Petersburg, 
and died there of a fever a few days after. The command 
now devolved again upon Arnold, but Cornwallis with his 
troops arrived on May 20th and took command. Cornwallis 
received instructions from Clinton to cripple the resources 
of Virginia in every way, and proceeded vigorously to carry 
them out. He was anxious not only to raid and burn, but 
to defeat and destroy La Fayette and his command before 
he should be reinforced by General Wayne, who was coming 
to his assistance with nine hundred Pennsylvanians. There 
was marching and counter-marching, and Cornwallis, who 
pretended to despise La Fayette, said at last : " The boy 
cannot escape me." 

Virg"inia's Part in the War. — Cornwallis had more than 
six thousand well-armed troops, La Fayette not many more 
than half that number; for though a greater force of militia 
might have been collected, there were no arms for them. 
Virginia had fought and suffered and stripped herself to aid 
her sister States and the Continental Army, and now, in her 
hour of need, her resources were exhausted. We have seen 
Morgan and his riflemen before Boston, and from that early 
day the Virginians had taken part in everj^ considerable 
engagement at the north. At Quebec, at Boston, at Harlem, 
at White Plains, at Fort Washington, at Brandywine, at Ger- 
mantown,at Saratoga, at Monmouth, and at Stony Point, Vir- 
ginia blood had flowed freely. The victories at Trenton and 
Princeton were gained mainly by Virginia soldiers. They 
had starved and frozen at Valley Forge and Morristown, 
and some of them were still with the handful of men under 
Washington. Nor only so. When Georgia and South Caro- 
lina were invaded, Virginia moved promptly to their relief. 
Again and again had General Greene been reinforced by 
Virginians and victory been wrested by their aid from the 
arrogant British invaders. Lee's Legion and Campbell's 



220 History of the United States. 

riflemen attested the patriotism and devotion of the " Ancient 
Dominion," wliich had to maintain all the time a force along 
her western borders to keep back the Indians, always ready- 
to swoop down upon the backwoodsmen. 

Virginia's Helpless Condition. — More than this, the thou- 
sands of British and Hessian prisoners captured at Prince- 
ton, at Bennington, at Saratoga, and at other points, were 
stationed in Virginia, and had to be fed from her fields and 
guarded by her sons. From 1776 she had kept from six 
thousand to ten thousand men in service, and at this very 
time she had with Greene twenty-four hundred and eighty- 
one soldiers, besides five thousand others fighting in the 
South — more than Washington had in his whole army. 
And now she was exposed to the ravages of her cruel foes 
and saw herself left to their savage destruction, without vol- 
untary help from the other States for wliich she had sacri- 
ficed so much. It is no wonder that her legislature made 
an eloquent and stirring appeal to Congress in her behalf. 
The State truly wanted everything, " men, money, arms, and 
military stores"; and her necessities were daily increased 
by Cornwallis. 

Cornwallis's Raids. — La Fayette avoided a battle with his 
stronger foe and effected a junction with Wayne and his 
Pennsylvanians; and Cornwallis, finding he could not catch 
" the boy," turned his attention to plundering the country. 
He stationed himself on the North Anna River and sent an 
infantry force under Simcoe southward to the Point of Fork, 
where the Rivanna flows into the James River, to destroy 
the stores there; and a cavalry force under Tarleton to move 
westward to capture the officers of state and the legislature 
which had removed from the low country to Charlottesville. 
Baron Steuben had five hundred men at the Point of Fork, 
and removed a large part of the stores safely to the south 
side of James River; but he was deceived into believing that 
Cornwallis himself was coming after him, and marched 
away, leaving the stores to be destroyed by Simcoe's men. 

Tarleton's Riding. — Tarleton, mounting his two hundred 
and fifty men on the fine horses he found in the Virginia 
stables, swept rapidly through the country, destroying pro- 
perty and capturing prisoners as he went. John Jouette 
rode his blooded horse at the top of its speed to Charlottes- 



The War in Virginia. 



221 



ville and warned the legislature of Tarleton's approach, so 
til at most of the members made good their escape. Gov- 
ernor Jefferson also, at his mountain home, Monticello, 
received information of the coming of a detachment to cap- 
ture him, and got safely off, his wife and family going by 
one road, himself by another. Monticello was unmolested, 
but another plantation of Mr. Jefferson was utterly devastated 
by Cornwallis's men. An attempt by Tarleton to destroy 
another deposit of valuable stores was prevented by La 
Fayette, and Tarleton joined Cornwallis, spreading ruin 
and desolation wherever he 
went. Among other things, 
he stole all the horses and 
cut the throats of the colts. 
In this campaign of Corn- 
wallis, the }) r o p e r t y de- 
troyed was estimated at 
ten million dollars, besides 
thirty thousand slaves car- 
ried off. Most of these 
poor creatures died of small- 
pox or camp fever, within 
six months. Cornwallis 
now moved eastward to Williamsburg, followed by La 
Fayette. After a stay of nine days there, the British gen- 
eral withdrew to Portsmouth. 




MONTICELLO, HOME OF JEFFERSON. 



AUTHORITIES.— Hildreth's History of the United States. Vol. III.; Winsor s ^&r- 
rative and Critical History of the United States, Vol. VI. ; Irving's Life of Washing- 
ton ; Marshall's Life of Washington ; Campbell's History of Virginia; Roosevi-lfs 
"Winning of the West; William Wirt Henry's Life of Patrick Henry; Lee's Memoirs of 
the Campaign in the Southern Department; Fiske's History of the United States. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. What infamous general was sent to Virginia ? 2. What 
(lid he do .'' 3. Who eanie to the defence of Virginia ? 4. Who now arrived 
from the South to command the British? 5. How did he fight? 0. What 
had been Virginia's part in the war so far ? 7. What was her condition now ? 
8. Tell of Cornwallis's raids. 9. Of Tarleton's riding. 10. What dis- 
tinguished men had to flee before him? 11. How were the slaves treated ? 
13. Where did C'ornwallis'at last go ? 



CHAPTER XLI. 

VIGTORT AT,YORKTOWN—JOHN PAUL JONES. 

Washington's Successful Maneuvres, 1781. — Washington 
had been anxious to strike a decisive blow at New York, but 
the defences of the city were strong, the British fleet com- 
manded many of the approaches, and Sir Henry Clinton 
had just received three thousand fresh troops from Ger- 
many. It was not, therefore, thought wise to risk his own 
small army and the French under Count Rochambeau in so 
desperate an enterprise. But when he learned of the fierce 
raiding and destruction in Virginia, the American com- 
mander-in-chief continued to march and maneuvre in so 
threatening a manner as to alarm Clinton, and make him 
call for three regiments from Cornwallis. It was this requi- 
sition which made Cornwallis take his force from Williams- 
burg to Portsmouth. Clinton also directed him to occupy 
and fortify some permanent position on the Chesapeake, 
where the largest war vessels might be able to protect him, 
while they would keep off any French ships, and destroy 
such small ones as belonged to the States. 

Cornwallis at Yorktown, 1781. — In pursuance of these 
instructions, Cornwallis took his men to Yorktown, only 
twelve miles up the broad York River, where the largest 
vessels could ride at anchor, and where Gloucester Point, 
projecting from the opposite shore, narrows the river to a 
mile in width. The heights at Yorktown were at once 
fortified, and intrenchments made also at Gloucester Point. 

Coming of the French Fleet. — Affairs now began to look 
brighter for the American cause. Not only were the Caro- 
linas freed^ but Colonel John Laurens from South Carolina, 
minister to Paris from Congress, had succeeded in borrow- 
ing a large amount of specie from France and Holland, and 
had persuaded Louis XVI. to send another powerful fleet 
and a strong land /orce to America. This was welcome 
news to Washington, who at once planned to combine with 
the French and drive the British from the Southern States. 
Just at this time he learned that the Comte de Grasse was 

[333] 



Victory at Yorktoiun — John Paul Jones. 



223 



coming from St. Domingo with a strong French fleet and a 
considerable body of French troops, and that he would sail 
at once into the Chesapeake Bay. 

Washington's March to Virginia. — This was the opportu- 
nity for which Washington had longed. He determined to 
march at once to Vir- 
ginia, with all Count 
Rochambeau's men 
and as many of his 
own army as could be 
spared, and, with the 
help of C o m t e de 
Grasse, to drive the 
enemy from Virginia. 
He wrote to La Fay- 
ette to take care that 
Cornwallis did not get 
away to North Caro- 
lina, and immediately 
began his southward 
move. So secretly 
were his plans carried 
out that General Clin- 
ton did not know where Washington was going until he had 
reached the Delaware River. Finding that the northern 
troops who were with him were unwilling to come to relieve 
Virginia, Washington, in passing through Philadelphia, 
borrowed silver money from Count Rochambeau and Mr. 
Robert Morris to pay them and put them in better spirits. 
He did this more easily because Colonel Laurens had ar- 
rived in Boston with part of the money borrowed in Europe. 
Before he reached the head of the Chesapeake Bay, Wash- 
ington learned that De Grasse and his fleet were really 
within the capes. 

Governor Nelson's Patriotic Generosity. — La Fayette had 
taken position at Williamsburg to prevent Cornwallis's 
moving southward from Yorktown. In June, Mr. Jeff'erson's 
term as governor of Virginia having expired. General 
Thomas Nelson had been elected his successor. He proved 
to be the very man for the crisis. The legislature gave him 
almost absolute power, which he used so judiciously that he 




VICINITY OF YORKTOWN. 



224 History of the United States. 

had joined La Fayette with thirty-two hundred militia, 
and had secured from the despoiled State provisions to sup- 
ply the whole army while the campaign lasted. The money 
to do this was raised on his own security, and his great for- 
tune was given so freely for his country that his family was 
thereby impoverished. 

Siege of Yorktown, 1781. — When Washington got to 
Williamsburg, on September 14th, he found a large force 
there, which increased in a few days to sixteen thousand 
men — seven thousand French, three thousand five hundred 
Continentals, and thirty-five hundred Virginia militia. 
Cornwallis did not appreciate his danger, until he learned 
that Comte de Grasse had attacked and driven off the English 
fleet coming to his aid, and that he was cut off. from means 
of escape by land or water. A desperate attempt to cross 
York River in the night and cut his way through to 
the north, was foiled by a storm which scattered the 
boats, and by an American force sent against Gloucester 
Point. 

Governor Nelson's House. — When the American cannon 
were close enough to fire at Yorktown, Washington put the 
match to the first gun. Cornwallis's quarters were soon 
riddled with balls. Governor Nelson's house was a great 
protection to the British. Finding that the gunners did 
not wish to injure his house, the governor promised a reward 
of five guineas to the first man who should send a cannon 
shot through it. Before long one went crashing through 
the wall, and the mark of it is there to this day. 

Cornwallis's Surrender, October 19, 1781. — Cornwallis's 
men and provisions were both exhausted. On October 17th 
he sent a flag of truce to General Washington, and, on the 
19th, surrendered the whole British army, with the posts 
held by it, and the vessels and sailors in the river ; the sol- 
diers to Washington, the ships and sailors to Comte de 
Grasse. When the time came for giving up his sword, Lord 
Cornwallis was so overcome by grief and mortification that 
he did not come himself, but sent it by General O'Hara. 
General Washington would not receive it in person, and 
deputed General Lincoln, who had been obliged to surren- 
der at Charleston, to do so. The number of men surren- 
dered was seven thousand and thirty-seven. 



Victory at Yorhtoion — John Paul Jones. 225 

Joy of Victory. — The joy and relief experienced throughi 
out the States at the news of this surrender was deep and 
universah "Cornwallis is taken" passed from mouth to 
mouth and soon penetrated to every part of the country, 
and rejoicings were held everywhere. Washington gave 
high praise to the officers and men of the victorious army, 
released all his soldiers who were under arrest, and ordered 
divine service and thanksgiving to be performed through 
the entire camp. Congress also voted thanks to all engaged 
and appointed a day of thanksgiving to God for the success 
to the cause of freedom. 

The Real End of the War— Peace Signed, 1783.— The 
surrender at Yorktown was really the end of the war. 
England was tired of it, and a treaty of peace was signed 
at Paris, between England and the United States, in 
February, 1783. Until the peace was concluded, Washing- 
ton had to keep his army together, and prevent quarrelling 
and discontent among the officers and men. But when it 
became plain that there would be no more battles, he let the 
militia go home, and gave the regulars long furloughs; and 
all the time strove to keep alive a spirit of patriotism and 
unselfishness among them. The men were permitted to 
take with them the arms with which they had fought. Per- 
haps, some of you have seen the old muskets and swords 
which your great-grandfathers used against the British. 

Washington's Farewell to the Army, 1783. — On November 
25, 1783, the last of the British forces left New York, and 
the American army marched in the next day. Shortly after 
this, the army was disbanded. Washington issued an elo- 
quent and touching farewell address to his soldiers, and on 
December 24tli took leave of the principal officers. Each 
one of them came up and shook his hand, but they were all 
so much moved that none of them could speak, and tears 
flowed over many bronzed faces. Washington stopped in 
Annapolis to resign his commission to Congress and settle 
his accounts, before proceeding to his beloved Mount Ver- 
non. He never received a cent of pay, but only the amount 
of his actual expenses, and a great deal of that went to pay 
messengers and special service done for the country. 

United States Navy in the Revolution. — Congress in 1775 
had voted to form a navy for the United States. A good 
15 



226 



History of the United States. 



many vessels did good service in capturing merchant ships. 
They also frequently captured or sank the smaller armed 
vessels of the enemy. But the American navy was never 
strong enough to offer any opposition to the hostile fleets 
which did so much damage along the American shores, 
and, one after another, each of its ships was burned or 
sunk. 

John Paul Jones. — The most famous and successful ship 
captain was John Paul Jones. After many disappointments, 
he succeeded in getting command of a clumsy war vessel, 




City Hall. Washington Monument. Capitol. 

Around the statue of Washingson are the bronze figures of Patrick Henry, Andrew 
Levris, Marshall, Nelson, Jefferson, and Mason. 

CAPITOL SQUARE AT RICHMOND. 

fitted out with old and indifferent guns. In compliment 
to Dr. Franklin, whose Poor Richard's Almanac he greatly 
admired, Jones called his ship Bonhomme Richard. Owing 
to the danger from cruisers and privateers, merchant ships 
did not go to sea alone, but a number of them sailed to- 
gether under the protection of one or more ships of war, 
called ''a convoy." A number of vessels were sailing out 
of the Baltic Sea under convoy of the Serapis and the 
Countess of Scarborough. 



Victory at Yorktoivn — John Paul Jones. 227 

Battle between the Serapis and the Bonhomme Richard. — 

Jones had three small ships besides his own, with which he 
met the British squadron. A fierce battle ensued. The 
Serapis was a strong vessel with forty-four fine guns; the 
Richard old and crazy, with forty-two worn-out cannon. In 
the heat of the action, some of these guns burst and did 
great damage to the ship and the crew. The ships were so 
close together that the guns of each were fired into the win- 
dows and port-holes of the other. When the Richard had 
been torn and riddled with shot, the British captain, Pear- 
son, asked Jones if he surrendered. "I have just begun to 
fight," was the reply. By this time the vessels were side 
by side, so close that Jones lashed them together. At last 
the Serapis was so much disabled that she struck her colors. 
Jones transferred his men to her from the Richard, which 
was so much injured by shot and fire that she soon settled 
down into the sea and sank. One of the smaller vessels had, 
in the mean time, captured the Countess of Scarborough, and 
Jones took both of his prizes into the Texel, in Holland, 
the next day. This fight was plainly seen from the English 
coast and made .Jones the hero of the time. 

Boundary of the United States. — The treaty of peace gave 
to the United States the territory east of the Mississippi 
River from Canada southward to the parallel of the southern 
boundary of Georgia. The shores of the Gulf of Mexico, 
Florida, southern Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana all 
belonged to Spain, who for some years was to prove a 
troublesome neighbor. 

AUTHORITIES.— Hildreth's History of the United States, Vol. III.; Winsor's Nar- 
rative and Critical History of the UnitedStates, Vol. VI.; Irving's Life of Washington; 
Marshall's Life of Washington ; Campbell's History of Virginia; Roosevelt's Winning 
of the West; William Wirt Henry's Life of Patrick Henry; Lee's Memoirs of the Cam- 
paign in the Southern Department; Fiske's History of the United States. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. How did Washington in New York help the cause in Vir- 
ginia? 2. At what place did Cornwallis fortify himself ? 3. What good news 
did John Laurens bring from France ? 4. Tell of Washington's coming to the 
rescue of the army in Virginia. 5. Relate Governor Nelson's patriotic gene- 
rosity. 6. Tell of the siege of Yorktown. 7. Of Governor Nelson's attack on 
his own house. 8. When and how did Cornwallis smrender ? 9. Tell of the 
joy throughout the country. 10. Was this the real end of the war? 11. How 
long before the treaty of peace was signed? 13. When did Washington dis- 
band the army and make his farewell address to them? 13. Tell of the occa- 
sion and of his going home. 14. What is said of the American navy ? 15. Who 
was John Paul Jones ? 16. Tell of the battle between his ship and the Serapis. 
17. What territory now belonged to the United States ? what to Spain ? 



i)j]|l|!i|)ii)iiiiii(iipr''i'i'ii'""'''' "" ""T'"i"i""ii|'iiii[fiiiinii 




SOME OF OUR HEROES. 
[233] 



SUMMARY FOR REVIEWS AND ESSAYS. 



THE REVOLUTION, 17(53-1783. 
Chapters 23-41. 



Causes of the "War : 

The American Revolution, the next war, 138. 

Colonies strenuous for their rights, 138. 

England's desire to tax the colonies, 138. 

The first cause of hostility, 139. 

Two-Penny Act, 139. 

Patrick Henry, 139. 

The " Parsons Cause, 1763, 140. 

•'Writs of assistance," 141. 

Higher taxes, 141. 

" Sous of Liberty," 141. 

Stamp Act, 1705^ 141. 

Opposition to the Stamp Act, 141. 

Congress of C'olonies, 1765, 142. 

Taxation without representation, 142. 

Stamp Act repealed, 143. 

Boston massacre, 1770, 143. 

Committee of correspondence, 1772,. 143. 

The Tea-Party, 144. 

llousiug of the colonies, 144. 

The Colonies in 1760-1775 : 

Condition of the colonies, 145. 

Education, 145. 

Frankliu's discoveries; newspapers, 145. 

Printing press, 146. 

Social conditions, 146. 

Life among the rich, 146. 

Life among the middle classes, 147. 

Non-Importation Acts, 148. 

Opposition to slavery, 148. 

Emigration to Tennessee, 148. 

Counties of Botetourt and Fincastle in Virginia, 149. 

Daniel Boone in Kentucky, 1769, 149. 

Settlement of Kentucky, 1771, 150. 

Watauga settlement, Teunessee, 1769, 150. 

Robertson and Sevier, 150. 

Friendly intercourse between the settlements, 151. 

Conventions in Virginia, 1769 and 1774, 151. 

First Continental Congress, 152. 

Its decisions, 153. 

Three distinguished members, 153. 

Canada invited to join the colonies, 154. 

The " minute men," 154. 

Strife in Virginia, 154. 

Indian war, 1774, 154. 

[229] 



230 History of the United States. 

The Colonies in \lQQ-V715-~Co)itinued : 
Armies for defence, 155. 
Lord Dunmore's orders, 156. 
Battle of the Great Kanawha, 156. 
Result of the battle, 156. 
George Rogers Clarke, 157. 

Opening of the Revolution, 1775 : 
Virginia Convention of 1775, 157. 
Removal of the powder, 158. 
Battle of Lexington, 158. 
Israel Putnam and John Stark, 159. 
A general rising of the country, 159. 
Capture of Ticonderoga, 160. 
Second Continental Congress, 1775, 160. 
Extreme measures of England, 161. 
"The United Colonies," 161. 
Washington commander-in-ehief, 161. 
Washington's appearance and character, 162. 
Troops around Boston, 1775, 162. 
Intrenchment of Breed's Hill, 163. 
Landing of the British, 163. 
British assault repulsed, 164. 
Americans forced to retreat, 164. 
Opinions of the battle, 165. 
Washington takes command of the army, 165. 
"The Continental Line," 166. 

Troops from Pennsylvania, JMaiyland, and Virginia, 167. 
ElTorts to seize Canada, 1775, 167. 
Attack o\\ Quebec, 168. 
Virginia Assembly deposes Dunmore, 169. 
Convention of 1775, 169. 
Dunmore declares war on Virginia, 170. 
Battle of Great Bridge, 170. 
North Carolina sends aid to Virginia, 171. 
Action of South Carolina and Georgia, 171. 
Not ready for independence, 171. 
Acts of Congress, 172. 

Events of 1776: 

South Carolina declares herself independent, 1776, 172. 

North Carolina's action, 173. 

Virginia's recommendation to Congress, 173. 

Convention of 1776, 173. 

Committee appointed to prepare a declaration of independence, 173. 

Thomas Jefferson, 174. 

Bill of Rights and the Virginia Constitution, 174. 

First colonial flag, 1776, 168. 

Attack on Boston, 168. 

Washmgton takes the army to New York, 168. 

Defences of Charleston, 175. 

Attack by the British, 176. 

Sergeant Jasper, 176. 

Results of the victory, 177. 

Declaration of Independence, July 4th, 174. 

Indian attacks in the Southern States, 194. 

Cherokee outbreak, 1776, 194. 



Summary for Reviews mid Essays. 231 

Events of 1776 — Conthmed: 

Attack on Watauga, 195. 

Defeat of the Cherokees; peace, 195. 

Immigration to Kentucky, 196. 

Kentucky County organized and defended, 1776, 196. 

The armies at New York, 177. 
:' Battle of Long Island, 177. 

Washington withdi-aws to Harlem and White Plains, 177. 

Surrender of Fort Washington, 178. 

At Lake C'hamplain, 178. 

Disobedience of General Charles Lee, 178. 

Remo%'al of Congress to Baltimore, 1776, 179. 

Washington crosses the Delaware, 179. 

Battle of Trenton, 179. 

Washington's determination, 180. 
Events of 1777: 

Cornwallis against Washington, 180. 
- Battle of Princeton, 181. 

Commissioners sent to France, 181. ' 

Decrease of the army, 181. 

Effort to seize the Hudson, 181. 

Howe enters the C!hesapeake, 183. 

Pulaski, De Kalb, La Fayette, 183. 

Battles of Brandywine and Germantown, 183. 

Burgoyne's advance from Canada, 184. 

Battle'of Oriskany, 184. 
' Battle of Bennington, 185. 

Murder of Miss McCJrae, 185. 

Schuyler superseded by Gates, 186. 
• Battles near Saratoga, 186. 

Burgoyne's surrender, 187. 

Prisoners taken to Virginia, 188. 

Conspiracy against Washington, 188. 

Sufferings at Valley Forge, 188. 

Inefficiency of {^'ongress, 189. 

Washington at Valley Forge, 190. 
Events of 1778 : 

The United States recognized bj^ France, 190. 

Evacuation of Philadelphia by the British, 190. 
' Battle of jVIonmouth Courthouse, 190. 

"Captain Molly," 191. 

Trial and dismissal of General Charles Lee, 191. 

Indian massacre at Wyoming, 191. 

Destruction of the Six Nations, 193. 

Washington returns to White Plains, 193. 

Coming of the French fleet, 193. 

British raids, 193. 

Fall of Savannah, 193. 

Clarke's plan to capture the Northwest, 197. 

His expedition down the Ohio, 1778, 198. 

Capture of Fort Kaskaskia, 198. 

Events of 1779 : 

British garrison at Vincennes, 198. 
(Clarke's march to Vincennes, 199. 
Capture of the fort, 300. 
Illinois made a coimty of Virginia, 300. 



232 History of the United States. 

Events of 1779— Continued : 
Clarke's later life, 200. 
British raids on the coast, 201. 

(.aptin-e of Stony Point, 201. • 

United States Navy In the Revolution, 225. 
John Paul Jones, 22C. 
• Battle between the Sernpis and the Bonhomme Richard, 237. 
Unsuccessful siege of Savaimah, 202. 
Washington and Congress, 203. 
Arnold at Philadelphia, 204. 

Events of 1780: 

Return of I^a Fayette to America, 204. 

Attack on Charleston and capture of Monk's Corner, 205. 

Siu-render of C'harleston, 205. 

Dark daj's for the Americans, 205. 

Treachery of Benedict Arnold, 206. 

Capture and execution of Andre, 207. 

Waxhaws disaster in South Carolina, 207. 

Sumter, Marion, Pickens, Clarke, "Light-Horse Harry" Lee, 307. 

Battle of Camden, 209. 

Defeat at Fishing Creek, 209. 

Retreat of Gates, 210. 

Rendezvous at Watauga Sycamore Shoals, 210. 

Advance against Ferguson, 211. 
vBattle of King's iSlountain, 211. 

Effect of the victory, 212. 

A visit to Marion's camp, 212. 

Defeat of Tarleton at Blackstoeks, 213. 

General Greene in the South, 213. 
Events of 1781^1783 : 

Battle of " The Cowpens," 214. 

Its results, 215. 

Greene's masterly retreat, 215. 

Battle of Guilford Courthouse, 216. 

Greene's return to South Carolina, 216. 

Ride of Emily Geiger, 217. 
' Battle of Eutaw Springs, 217. 

Devastation in Virginia, 218. 

La Fayette sent to Virginia, 218. 

Arrival of Cornwallis, 219. 

Virginia's part in the war, 219. 

Virginia's helpless condition, 220. 

Cornwallis's raids, 220. 

Tarleton's riding, 220. 

Washington's successful maneuvres, 222. 

Cornwallis at Yorktown, 222. 

Coming of i\w French fleet, 222. 

Washington's march to Virginia, 223. 

Governor Nelson's patriotic generosity, 228. 

Siege of Yorktown, 224. 

Governor Nelson's house, 224. 

('omwallis's surrender, October 19, 1781, 224. 

Joy of victory, 225. 

l{eal end of the war; peace signed in 1783, 225. 

Washington's farewell to the army, 1783, 225. 

Boundary of the United States, 227. 



UNDER THE CONSTITUTION, 1783-1861. 



CHAPTER XLII. 

CONDITION OF THE THIRTEEN STATES IN 1783. 

The Country After the Revolution. — The acknowledgmeni 
of American independence, the withdrawal of the British 
troops, the disbanding of the Continental Army, were good 
things, but they" did not give quietness and prosperity, as 
most of the Americans hoped they would. The long war 
had drained the resources and crippled the industries of the 
entire country. Trade had flourished in the colonies before 
the Revolution, not only among themselves and to the West 
Indies, but American vessels had carried American produce 
to many European ports. The English fleets had destroyed 
these vessels so thoroughly that American commerce seemed 
dead. This bore especially hard upon New England, where 
sea- faring occupied a large proportion of the men. In the 
Middle States, where agriculture was the principal pursuit, 
the excitement of war had paralyzed the energies of the peo- 
ple. Farther south the country had been for years the 
tramping-ground of the hostile armies, and the British had 
destroyed the crops, eaten up the cattle, stolen the horses, 
and in many cases carried off" the negroes b}^ thousands. 
These evils and the poverty consequent upon them were 
aggravated by the fact that there was no money in the coun- 
try, except promissory notes issued by Congress or by the 
diff'erent States, which were by this time worthless. 

Congress Helpless. — You have seen what troubles the 
want of pay for the soldiers had given General Washington 
during the war, and how the army had more than once 
mutinied and threatened vengeance on Congress for not fur- 
nishing them with the money due them. Congress had 
been very inefficient and was not much respected for sev- 
eral years, partly because the States kept their best men at 
home, and partly because no attention was paid to its action 
when it did try to do what was for the good of the country. 

[ 233 ] 



234 History of the United States. 

The calls made by it upon the several States for men and 
money during the war had been disregarded, especially by 
the New England and Middle States, and when peace came, 
less heed than ever was paid to its requirements. And it 
had no power to enforce any regulation or law it might pass. 
Frequently the men elected would not attend; sometimes 
only seven States were represented; in 1784, the thirteen 
members present went home in disgust, and for two months 
the country had no government whatever, except that of the 
several States within their own boundaries. 

Confederation of 1774. — The confederation formed in 1774 
was only "a friendly league " between the thirteen colonies, 
by which they bestowed some powers upon Congress, and 
kept more for themselves. From 1774 to 1783 different 
States had made treaties with Indians, issued money, and 
done other things which they professed to have put into the 
hands of Congress. Most of them seemed more bent on 
maintaining and increasing their own importance than 
doing anything for the general welfare. A common danger 
had, indeed, united them to strive together for their inde- 
pendence, but there was little liking between the people of the 
different colonies. New York and New England could not 
agree; Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia 
were often hostile to one another; and the eastern and Mid- 
dle States had small care and sympathy for their sister 
States south of the Potomac. These animosities were now 
ready to break out at any moment. 

Generosity of Virginia. — Virginia had shown a wonderful 
unselfishness and an earnest desire for the good of the 
confederation. It had required the consent of nine of the 
States to make the Articles of Confederation of 1777 bind- 
ing upon them all. Maryland, jealous of her neighbor's 
great power — or wise enough to see the danger of it — 
had refused to sign, unless the vast country north of the 
Ohio should become the property of the confederation. Now 
Virginia had, you remember, three claims to the possession 
of that territory. It lay between the parallels of latitude 
within which all the land in America had originally been 
granted to her by the king; it had been sold to her by 
the Indians in solemn council; and it was hers by the right 
of conquest, since George Rogers Clarke had taken it from 



Condition of the Thirteen States in 1783. 2 35 

the English. She had governed it from that time, and her 
possession of it was the ground upon which the Treaty of 
Peace of 1783 gave it to the United States. But when the 
oldest of the Colonies found that her ownership of the 
Northwest was a bar to the establishment of the American 
Confederacy in 1781, she testified her love of freedom, and 
the sincerity of her desire for independence, by stripping 
herself of the larger part of her dominions and ceding them 
to the general government. A condition was made that the 
bounties of land promised to Virginia soldiers should be 
given them out of this ceded territory, and that all the 
States should sign the Articles of Confederation. Maryland 
signed the compact in 1781. In 1784 Congress accepted 
the Virginia grant; and the other States claiming western 
lands, one by one, followed her example and relinquished 
them. 

How to Raise Money ? — The most vexed question of the 
first years of peace was how to raise money to pay the debts 
and meet the expenses of the confederation. Arrears of 
pay were due the disbanded soldiers, and money was want- 
ing to carry on the government from day to day. Large 
sums had also been borrowed from France and Holland and 
there was not a cent to pay the interest. To borrow more 
money to pay these debts was almost impossible. No nation 
would make a treaty with a bankrupt, if not dishonest gov- 
ernment, and England began to hope that before long the 
American States would seek to come under her rule and 
protection again. 

First Tariff, 1784. — To prevent this and other evils. Con- 
gress proposed an " impost" — what we call a tariff" — on certain 
articles, especially on luxuries, brought in from foreign coun- 
tries. A clamor was raised that this was unlawful taxation, 
and some of the States, Rhode Island, New York, Maryland, 
and Georgia, absolutely refused to pay any duty imposed by 
Congress upon anything. Virginia, the wealthiest, and 
therefore the greatest consumer of articles named in the 
impost bill, instructed her representatives to vote for it, at 
the very time that she gave her western lands into pos- 
session of the general government. 

Distracted Condition of the Country. — In the mean time 
affairs were going from bad to worse. Many of the States 



236 History of the United States. 

did their best to restrict the commerce of their neighbors, 
so as to improve their own. The Pennsylvanians attacked 
the Connecticut settlers in the Wyoming Valley, and drove 
them from the State. The tories in all parts of the country 
were treated with so much scorn and unkindness that thou- 
sands of them were forced to leave their homes. The 
refugees who had returned when peace was made, found 
their property confiscated, and little prospect of reclaiming 
it. The value of the paper money issued by themselves 
was so different in the various States that it was impossible 
to understand it. Should a man be fortunate enough to get 
some Spanish or English gold, it would buy for him very 
diff'erent amounts of American money in the north, east, or 
south. 

Shays 's Insurrection, 1787. — The refusal of Great Britain 
to give up her posts in the west until the money due the 
British subjects was paid, and a strong insurrection in Mas- 
sachusetts in 1787, headed by one Shays, brought the affairs 
of the country to a crisis. Congress was afraid to assert its 
authority against Shays and his followers, and the wise men 
of the land began to see that unless some remedy could be 
found, the new nation must become a scorn and reproach 
on the earth, and would soon cease to exist. 

Annapolis Convention, 1786. — A convention of the States, 
to regulate trade among themselves — had been called by 
Virginia, and met at Annapolis in 1786. Only five States — 
Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New 
York — Avere represented, and they could do nothing; but they 
recommended that another convention of the States should 
be called to meet in Philadelphia to provide " a federal 
government adequate to the necessities of the union." 

The "Cincinnati."— The "Society of the Cincinnati" 
was originated by the officers of the Continental Army 
before their final separation. It was to be a sort of Order 
of Knighthood, none but officers of the Revolutionary Army 
could belong to it, and its honors descended to the oldest 
son. 

AUTHORITIES.— Hildreth's History of the United States, Vol. III.. IV.: Schouler's 
History of the United States, Vol. I.; McMaster's History of the People of the United 
States, Vol. I.; Irving's Life of Wasliington; Rives' Life of Madison; Jefferson, 
Madison, Monroe, Adams, American Statesmen Series ; Madison Papers ; William Win 
Henry's Life of Patrick Henry ; Rowland's Memoir of George Mason ; Winsor's Narra- 
tive and Critical History of the United States, Vol. VII. 



The Federal Convention of 1787. 237 

QUESTIONS. — 1. In what condition was the country after the Revolution? 
2. What could Congress do ? 3. What sort of compact was the confederation 
of 1774? 4. How did the States act towards each other? 5. Tell of Vir- 
ginia's right to the Northwest. 6. Iler generosity in regard to it m 1781. 
7. How did the other States then act? 8. Why was it so hard to raise 
money ? 9. What mode did Congress take to secure a revenue ? 10. How 
was it received? 11. Tell of the distracted condition of the country. 
13. When did Shays's Insurrection occur ? 13. When was the Annapolis Con- 
vention, and for what pui'pose did it meet? 14. What was the "Society of 
the Cincinnati " ? 



CHAPTER XLIII. 

THE FEDERAL CONVENTION OF 1787. 

The Federal Convention, 1787. — The call for a Federal 
Convention to improve the government was responded toby 
twelve of the States. Rhode Island refused to pay any at- 
tention to it. This Convention, which met in Independence 
Hall, Philadelphia, on the 25th of May, 1787, consisted of 
fifty-five of the wisest and most experienced men from their 
different States : From New Hampshire went John Lang- 
don and Nicholas Gilman : from Massachusetts, Rufus King, 
Nathaniel Gorham, Caleb Strong, Elbridge Gerry; from Con- 
necticut, Oliver Ellsworth, William S. Johnson, Roger Sher- 
man ; from New York, Robert Yates, Alexander Hamilton, 
John Lansing ; from New Jersey, David Brearley, William 
C. Houston, William Patterson, William Livingston, Jona- 
than Dayton ; from Pennsylvania, Robert Morris, Thomas 
Fitzsimmons, James Wilson, Gouverneur Morris, Benjamin 
Franklin, George Clymer, Thomas Mifflin, Jared Ingersoll ; 
from Delaware, George Read, Richard Bassett, Jacob Broom, 
Gunning Bedford, John Dickenson ; from Maryland, James 
McHenry, John F. Mercer, Luther Martin, Daniel Jenifer of 
St. Thomas, Daniel Carroll ; from Virginia, George Wash- 
ington, Edmund Randolph, John Blair, James Madison, 
George Mason, George Wythe, James McClurg ; from North 
Carolina, Alexander Martin, William Richardson Davie, 
Richard Dobbs Spaight, Hugh Williamson, William Blount ; 
from South Carolina, John Rutledge, Charles Cotesworth 
Pinckney, Charles Pinckney, Pierce Butler ; from Georgia, 
William Few, William Pierce, William Houston, Abraham 



238 History of the United States. 

Baldwin. Of these, twelve were absent when the first vote 
was taken, and three declined to agree with their colleagues. 

Members of the Convention. — These men ranged from 
twenty-five to eighty years of age. Nearly all of them had 
been distinguished in the troubled years of the Revolution. 
As framers and signers of the Declaration of Independence; 
as gallant soldiers; as members of Congress; as governors 
of their States, they had known the difficulties and dangers 
which threatened the young republic, and had thought 
deeply how they might be remedied. Twenty-nine of them 
had been graduated in the universities of the Old World or the 
colleges of the New. Twenty-six were self-educated. The 
two most famous among them were George Washington and 
Benjamin Franklin, neither of whom was a college man. 
Washington was fifty-five and Franklin eighty-one years 
old. Washington was renowned throughout the civilized 
world as the purest, wisest, most unselfish of men. Frank- 
lin, though never a soldier, had served his country well, at 
home and abroad, and was one of the greatest statesmen, 
the wisest politicians, and most accomplished scholars of 
his day. The cares of public life had not prevented his un- 
tiring study of Natural Philosophy, in which he had made 
many important discoveries; and long experience and ob- 
servation of men and principles gave great weight to his 
opinions expressed in terse sentences and witty illustrations. 
Next to Washington and Franklin, stood James Madison 
and Alexander Hamilton, both youug men, Madison thirty- 
five and Hamilton only thirty, and both with their reputa- 
tion to achieve. 

Meeting of the Convention with Closed Doors. — On the 28th 
of May, delegates had assembled from eight States; the 
Convention met, the doors were locked, the members pledged 
to secrecy, and the great work began. So strictly was the in- 
junction of secrecy kept, that it was not until after Mr. 
Madison's death, fifty years later, when his journal was pub- 
lished, that the particulars of the debates and the diff'erent 
opinions and parties in the Convention were given to the 
world. Washington was made president of the Convention, 
and few of the members thought alike upon the questions 
they had met to decide. There were men in favor of three 
republics, one for New England, one for the Middle, and a 



The Federal Convention of 1787. 239 

third for the Southern States; while others advocated three 
presidents for one republic. Virginia was the advocate of a 
new scheme of government, and brought in resolutions 
which would place much power in the hands of the larger 
States. New Jersey offered another set of resolutions, giv- 
ing as much authority to the smallest as to the largest State. 
The antagonism between these two plans brought out the 
" Larger and Smaller State Parties." Later on there appeared 
a hostile feeling between the Northern States, where negroes 
had ceased to form any important part of the population, 
and the Southern States, where they continued to increase 
so as to form a large proportion of it. But the strongest 
and deepest opposition was between those members who 
were in favor of intrusting great powers to the general gov- 
ernment — Federalists as they were called — and those who 
thought the principal power should be retained by the indi- 
vidual States themselves — the Anti-Federalists, or State 
Rights party. 

First Compromise. — The Federalists, under the leadership 
of James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, made a great 
effort for the Virginia plan; and with Virginia sided Penn- 
sylvania, Massachusetts, North and South Carolina, and 
Georgia. The smaller States, Maryland, 
Delaware, and Connecticut, stood by 
New Jersey in asserting their claim to 
equal power, and with them voted Ham- 
ilton's New York colleagues. It re- 
quired the assent of seven of the States 
to adopt propositions, and it seemed as 
if no decision could be reached. The 
Connecticut delegates proposed a com- 
promise by which the States should each 
have equal power in the Senate, while in the House of Rep- 
resentatives the number should be in proportion to the pop- 
ulation. This was agreed to in July, with the proviso that 
the representatives should be chosen by the people of each 
State, one for not less than every thirty thousand, and the 
senators by the legislatures. 

Negro Representation. — No sooner was this decided than 
the question broke out between the North and the South as 
to negro representation. This question waxed very hot. 




240 History of the United States. 

South Carolina was determined to have her negroes counted 
among her popuhition or leave the Convention. New York 
was opposed to it, and Massachusetts very undecided. If 
South Carolina withdrew, Georgia and North Carolina 
would probably do so too, and there would not be enough 
States left to ratify the action of the Convention. 

Second Compromise. — Except George Mason and Gov- 
ernor Randolph, the Virginia delegation had been all the 
time in favor of decided measures, and Washington had 
made a powerful speech urging the Convention to take a 
firm stand and do its work thoroughly; but now, seeing the 
danger of driving South Carolina off, Virginia, true to her 
character of peace-maker, proposed a second compromise. 
Madison reminded the Convention how a difficulty on the 
same subject had been settled in Congress four years before. 
Then it was a question of taxation in proportion to popula- 
tion. Then the North had insisted that each negro should 
be counted as well as each white man. To avoid such an 
over-burden of taxation, Madison had proposed that five 
negroes should be counted as equal to three white men. 
Rutledge of South Carolina had advocated the measure and 
it was passed. The same proposition was now made and 
the North forced to consent to it. 

Abolition of Slave Trade Opposed. — In a third compro- 
mise between the North and the South, Virginia would take 
no part. South Carolina would not consent to an imme- 
diate abolition of the foreign slave trade. For years the 
New England ship-owners had been engaged in this traffic. 
To continue their great gains from it, and to secure the 
right to control Congress by a majority vote on commercial 
and navigation questions, the New England States voted 
with South Carolina and Georgia to continue it for twenty 
vears longer, by restricting the power of Congress to forbid 
it, until 1808. 

Other Regulations. — On these three compromises, the 
main features of the Constitution were decided. Other 
regulations followed. The executive power — the President; 
the legislative power — Congress, with its two branches, the 
Senate and House of Representatives ; and the judicial power — 
the Supreme Court and lower courts in the States; together 
with the modes of choosing each branch and the powers 



The Federal Convention of 1787. 241 

conferred upon each, were decided upon. On September 
17th, the Constitution was laid before the Convention and 
signed, first by Washington and then by the different dele- 
gates in the geographical order of the States, beginning with 
the east. Provision was made by which amendments could 
be proposed either by Congress or the States, and the docu- 
ment was ready to go before the people for their confirma- 
tion or dissent. 

Fifteen Amendments. — Fifteen amendments have been 
made to the original Constitution — ten of them in a few 
years after its inception, two early in this century, the other 
three nearly sixty years later. So that the Government as 
we have it is principally the work of the Federal Conven- 
tion. The Constitution has been characterized as "the most 
wonderful work ever struck off at a given time by the brain 
and purpose of man"; and on account of its importance I 
have been careful to give you these particulars. 

Ratification of Constitution. — The Continental Congress 
agreed to the action of the Convention, and Delaware, Penn- 
sylvania, and New Jersey ratified the Constitution within a 
few weeks. Georgia, Connecticut, and Massachusetts did 
the same early in 1788; Maryland in April; South Carolina 
in May. New Hampsliire and Virginia argued the matter 
until June, when they too agreed to it for the sake of peace. 
New York waited until July; North Carolina would not 
consent to sign it until late in 1789, and Rhode Island, for 
very shame, came into line in May, 1790. From Massachu- 
setts, in the order mentioned, all the States, except the last 
named, called for amendments to protect the 
rights of the States and citizens; and two years 
later the ten spoken of before were passed by 
Congress. The States which were slow in 
accepting the Constitution were influenced by 
a strong feeling that it gave too much power to 
the General Government, and thereby inter- 
fered with the inherent rights of the sovereign 
States. To overcome this feeling, a series of 
papers known as "The Federalist," written 
by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay, was circulated throughout 
the States and produced such a change in public opinion 
that the Constitution was accepted by all thirteen of the 
16 




HAMILTON. 



242 History of the United States. 

States. From his successful work on its behalf, James Madi- 
son has been styled the "Father of the Constitution." 

AUTHORITIES.— Hildreth's History of the United States. Vols. III.. IV.; Sehouler's 
History of the United States, Vol. I. ; McMaster's History of the People of the United 
states, Vo). I. ; Irving's Life of Washington ; Rives's Life of Madison ; Jefferson, Madi- 
son, Monroe, Adams, American .Statesmen Series; Madison Papers; William Wirt 
Henry's Life of Patrick Henry ; Rowland's Memoir of George Mason ; Winsor's Narra- 
tive and Critical History of the United States, Vol. VII. 

QUESTIONS,—!. When and where did the Federal Convention meet? 
2. Give the names of some of the members. 3. What four are the most dis- 
tinguished ? 4. Tell about each one. 5. How did the Convention meet? 
6. What differing opinions arose among the members ? 7. What was the first 
compromise? 8. What was the second? !). What action was taken about 
the slave trade ? 10. Mention som6 other regulations. 11. How many amend- 
ments are there ? 12. In what year did most of the States ratify the Consti- 
tution? 13. Which was the last one to do so? 14. What has Madison been 
called, and why ? 



CHAPTER XLIV. 

CONTINENTAL CONORESS. 

Work of the Continental Congress. — The Continental Con- 
gress had accomplished some work worthy of remembrance. 
Besides the treaty of alliance with France in 1778, and the 
treaty of peace with England in 1783, it had in 1785 con- 
cluded treaties of friendship and commerce with Holland, 
Sweden, and Prussia. In 1787 a similar treaty was made 
with Morocco. 

Spanish Claims. — Spain refused to make a treaty. She 
claimed the whole region between the Gulf of Mexico and 
the mouth of the Yazoo River across to the Atlantic Ocean, 
and unless this claim was granted and the control of the 
Mississippi River from the Yazoo down acknowledged to be 
her right, she would make no treaty at all. Now, trade with 
Spain was much desired by New England and the other 
Northern States. With Spain on friendly terms, their ships 
could go and come, not only to her shores, but into the Med- 
iterranean to its farthest eastern limits, while it was a mat- 
ter of indifference to them who controlled the navigation of 
the Mississippi. The seven Northern States were therefore in 
favor of the treaty, and John Jay, the United States minister 
to Spain, urged Congress to agree to it at least for twenty- 



Continental Congress. 



243 



five years. But the right to travel on the Mississippi was of 
vital importance to the Southern States. To them the Mis- 
sissippi was the outlet of half their territory, through which 
their produce was to find its market and their own wants be 
supplied from foreign markets. One and all of them, from 
Virginia down, protested against the closing of the Missis- 
sippi; and Mr. Madison was so strenuous in insisting that 
no treaty would be valid without the assent of nine States, 
that the question went over to a later date. 

Northwest Territory to be Free from Slavery. — But though 
Congress could not settle the Mississippi navigation, it did 
good, strong work with the country north of the Ohio. '_This 
land was entitled tlie Northwest Territory, and judicious laws 
and regulations were made for its government. Among other 
regulations it was enacted that the territory should in time 
be divided into four or five States, each to enjoy the same 
privileges and perform the same duties as the original thir- 
teen ; and that no slavery should be tolerated except as 
punishment for crime, but fugitive 
slaves from other States should be 
restored to their owners. Out of 
this territory Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, 
Wisconsin, and part of Michigan 
were afterwards carved. 

Treaties With the Indians, 1787.— 
The Congress of 1787 also made the 
mistake of treating with the Indians 
as if they were independent nations, 
and not ignorant savages whom it 
would be wiser and kinder to govern 
and protect under law. This mis- 
take has produced untold mischief 
to til is day. 

Settling the West. — Dissensions 
between neighboring States werei 
also adjusted and boundaries de- 
fined. Five million acres of land on^ -^ ^if^r' 
the Ohio, between the Muskingum <r ^''i," 
and the Scioto Rivers, were sold for 
two-thirds of a dollar an acre to the " Ohio Company " of 
New England citizens, and two million acres between the 




INDIAN CHILD IN CRADLE. 



244 History of the United States. 

Great and Little Miamis, to Syme, of New Jersey. Emi- 
gration from New England and the Middle States began at 
once and went on so rapidly that the development of the 
region was wonderful. South of the Ohio, too, the settle- 
ments west of the mountains were growing and spreading. 
In 1784 the districts along the Tennessee and Cumberland 
Rivers had severed themselves from North Carolina, had 
erected themselves into the State of Franklin, and had 
maintained an independent existence for three years. Then 
North Carolina regained her hold upon them and governed 
them until they were set off as the State of Tennessee. 

Fitch's and Rumsey's Steamboats, 1787. — Two other inci- 
dents of this year deserve mention. John Fitch, of Con- 
necticut, and James Rumsey, of Shepherdstown in Virginia, 
both conceived the idea of propelling boats by steam. Fitch 
put liis steamboat in motion on the Delaware in August, 

1787, where it was seen and admired by the members of the 
Federal Convention. Rumsey's boat made its trial trip in 
December on the Potomac River at Shepherdstown, where 
General Gates, among others, attested the fact that it went 
against the stream by the power of steam alone. Fulton 
has had the credit of inventing the steamboat, no doubt 
because he was the first man to make one pay. But these 
two original projectors and constructors should at least have 
the credit due their ingenuity. 

Beginning of Constitutional Government, 1789. — The 
Continental Congress ceased to exist in the autumn of 

1788, having first referred the request of Kentucky, to be 
cut off from A^irginia, to the Federal Congress soon to 
assemble, and having decreed that the elections for the new 
government should take place early in the next year, 1789, 
and that Congress should meet on the first Wednesday in 
March. This fell on the 4th of the month, and from that 
time each new administration has begun on that day of the 
year. 

Washington the First President. — It was not until the 30th 
of March that the fifty-nine representatives of eleven States 
met. Six days later the Senate assembled, and Congress 
organized and proceeded to count the electoral votes. It 
was found that Washington had been unanimously chosen 
President, and John Adams, of Massachusetts,Vice-President. 



Continental Congress. 



245 



Washington's Inauguration, 1789. — Washington, having 
been notified of his election, left Mount Vernon on the 15th 
of April. His journey was delayed by the people who 
crowded along the route to welcome and rejoice over him. 
In the cities triumphal arches were built in his honor, and 
his coming hailed with bands of music, volleys of artillery, 
and the shouts of his countrymen. Philadelphia, the largest 
city in the States, gave him a magnificent reception. At 
Trenton he was met by a procession of women and young 




WASHINGTON'S INAUGUKATION. 

girls, who strewed flowers in his way and sang songs in his 
praise. On the 30th of April the ceremonies of the inau- 
guration took place in the city of New York, on a balcony 
in view of a great concourse of people, and the shout arose, 
"Long live George Washington, President of the United 
States." He was addressed as " His Excellency," the title 
the President continues to bear. After delivering his inau- 



246 History of the United States. 

gural address, the President, accompanied by botli houses 
of Congress, went to St. Paul's Church, where Bishop Pre- 
vost, recently consecrated, held a service suitable to the 
occasion. 

AUTHORITIES.— Hildreth's History of the United States, Vols. III., IV. ; Schouler's 
History of the United States, Vol. I. ; McMaster's History of the People of the United 
States, Vol. I.; Irving's Life of Washington; Rives's Life of Madison; Jefferson, Mad- 
ison, Monroe, Adams, American Statesmen Series; Madison Papers; William Wirt 
Henry's Life of Patrick Henry ; Rowland's Memoir of George Mason ; Winsor's Narra- 
tive and Critical History of the United States, Vol. VII. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. What had been the work of the' Continental Congress? 
2. Why did Spain refuse to make a treaty with the United States? 3. What 
did she wish as to the Mississippi River? 4. Did Congress yield to her de- 
mand? 5. What regulations were made as to the Northwest territory? 
6. What States have been since made out of it? 7. What sort of dealings had 
Congress with the Indians? 8. Tell of the Ohio Company. 9. Of settlements 
south of the Ohio. 10. When and where were the first steamboats put in 
motion? 11. By whom? 13. When did the government go into effect under 
the new Constitution? 13. Who was the first Pi'esident? first Vice-President? 
14. Describe the jom-ney and the inauguration of Washington. 15, When and 
where did the latter occur ? 



CHAPTER XLV. 

WASHINGTON'S ADMINISTRATION. 

The First Federal Congress, 1789. — The First Federal 
Congress held three sessions before it expired in the spring of 
1791; and, next to the Federal Convention, it was the most re- 
markable body that has met since the Revolution, on account 
of the men who composed it and the part it performed in 
regulating the new government and insuring its prosperity. 
Three executive departments were established by it; the 
President appointed Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, Secre- 
tary of State; Alexander Hamilton of New York, Secretary 
of the Treasury; and General Knox of Massachusetts, Sec- 
retary of War. Edmund Randolph of Virginia was made 
Attorney-General. The other departments, the heads of 
which now form part of the President's Cabinet, were estab- 
lished at later periods. The federal judiciary, consisting of 
the Supreme Court and other inferior tribunals in the States, 
was also created. The salaries of the President and all 
Federal officers were decided upon. As it was believed that 



Washington'' s Administration. 247 

in a republic all ceremonies should be simple and living 
plain, the salaries were made so small that it was very hard 
for the United States officers to meet the expenses of their 
positions. 

Providing a Revenue. — As there was no money for any- 
thing, Congress set about providing a revenue by laying 
taxes and imposing duties. A tariff" upon articles imported 
from foreign countries seemed the simplest way to raise the 
means for the expenses of the government. Everybody 
seemed willing for a small duty on all imported goods. But; 
as soon as it was proposed to tax certain commodities at a 
higher rate, the diff'erent interests of the country produced 
strong sectional feeling. New England protested against a 
high duty on rum and molasses. She sold her fish to the 
West Indies for these commodities, which were sometimes 
brought back for home consumption; but very often she 
made a double profit by sailing directly to the coast of 
Africa, where the rum was exchanged for a cargo of slaves, 
who were sold at a great price to the planters in South Caro- 
lina and Georgia. 

Protective Tariff. — The Middle States wanted protection 
for their " infant industries," and insisted that foreign steel 
and ironware and paper should be taxed heavily. The 
Eastern and Middle States also urged a high tonnage or tax 
on foreign ships trading to the United States, that their ves- 
sels might do the carrying and their ship-yards and sail- 
makers be encouraged. The Southern States, on the other 
hand, objected to protective duties and high tonnage, as 
contrary to their interests. Their staple crops of tobacco, 
rice, and indigo were carried abroad mainly in foreign ships, 
which brought to them articles of European manufacture, 
not only cheaper but better than the same goods made in 
America. 

Tax on Slaves. — The discussion on these points grew fiery, 
when Parker of Virginia proposed that a ten per cent, tax 
should be laid upon each slave brought into the country. 
Madison and Bland sustained the resolution, but so much 
ill-feeling was excited by it that Parker finally withdrew it, 
and revenue and tonnage bills were passed. Ten amend- 
ments were added to the Constitution, and a government was 
instituted for the territory north of the Ohio. 



248 History of the United States. 

Thanksgiving^ Day, 1789. — Before the House of Repre- 
sentatives adjourned in September, they requested the Pres- 
ident to appoint a day of Thanksgiving to God for the 
prosperous beginning of the New Republic. 

Hamilton's Financial Policy, 1790.— The second session was 
mainly occupied with efforts to improve the financial condi- 
tion of the country. Hamilton proposed a plan which 
proved efficacious in establishing public credit and laying 
the foundation of a strong financial policy, though it was 
violently opposed at first. He advised that the General Gov- 
ernment should assume the debts of all the States and then 
should fund them — that is, should issue bonds or stock in 
payment of the principal, upon which interest should be 
regularly paid. On these points the North and the 
South were again opposed to each other. The Southern 
States held that assuming the State debts was unfair 
to those States who had already diminished their in- 
debtedness. To the funding bill they were also opposed, 
except in regard to the foreign debt, which should be paid 
in full. 

Petition of the Quakers to Abolish Slavery. — While all was 
uncertainty on these questions, a bombshell was thrown 
into Congress by a petition from the Pennsylvania Quakers, 
praying for an act to abolish slavery immediately, which 
petition was headed by the aged Benjamin Franklin. 
Slavery still existed in every State except Massachusetts. 
Several of the States had, however, made laws providing 
that it should cease after a certain number of years; and 
all the States represented in Congress, except South Caro- 
lina and Georgia, had prohibited the bringing in of slaves 
from foreign countries. There was a growing feeling ever}'-- 
where that slavery was an evil, if not a sin, and slaveholders 
themselves were casting about in their minds as to the best 
and wisest and safest means to get rid of it. But the South- 
ern States had no mind to be dictated to; and the sentiment 
was so strong against permitting the 2:)eople of one section 
to interfere with the rights of another, that a committee on 
the abolition petition, composed of six northern men and 
one Virginian, brought in a report "that Congress have no . 
authority to interfere in the emancipation of slaves, or in 
the treatment of them in any of the States." This was 



Washington's Administration. 249 

passed by Congress, and the assumption and funding bills 
again taken up. 

Site for National Capital. — The first session of Congress 
had tried to select a site for the National Capital; and now 
Hamilton managed to make a bargain with Jefferson that 
after remaining ten years in Philadelpliia the Goverment 
should remove permanently to the Potomac, if the Southern 
members would vote for assumption and funding, which was 
accordingly done. 

Cession of West North Carolina. — About the same time the 
bill accepting the cession of the western part of North Carolina 
was passed, and a law enacted that the territory south of the 
Ohio was to stand upon the same footing with the North- 
west Territory, except that slavery was not to be excluded. 
North Carolina had stipulated for this in giving it up. In 
the third session of this first memorable Congress James 
Monroe, afterwards President, sat as senator from Virginia. 
During this session the United States Bank was established 
and an excise duty laid upon all spirits drunk in the States. 

Vermont and Kentucky Admitted, 1791 and 1792.— Two 
new States, A^ermont and Kentucky, were also admitted into 
the Union, the first to become a State at once, the second in 
June of the next year. Vermont had called herself a State 
for several years, and now, with the consent of New York 
and New Hampshire, claimants of her territory, she was 
acknowledged to be independent. Kentucky was also, on 
June 1, 1792, admitted to the Union, with the consent of 
Virginia. 

Tours of Washington. — While these and other important 
questions were settled by Congress, the President had 
appointed the Secretaries, the Judges of the Supreme and 
other Federal courts, John Jay of New York being the first 
Chief Justice, and had faithfully discharged many other 
important duties. Between the first and second session of 
Congress, he made a tour through New England, where he 
was received with great enthusiasm. John Hancock, gov- 
ernor of Massachusetts, was tlie only exception. He did not 
like Washington, and professed to consider his position as 
governor of a State superior to Washington's as President. 
He therefore refused to call on him until the displeasure of 
the people forced him to do so. When Congress adjourned 



250 History of the United States. 

Washington made a tour through the Southern States in 
1791, and selected the site for the National Capital, where 
the city of Washington now stands. 

First Census of the United States. — The first census of the 
United States was taken in the year 1790, and there were 
found to be very nearly four millions of people; of this 
number Virginia contained a fifth, and Pennsylvania, the 
next most populous State, a ninth. About seven hundred 
thousand were negro slaves. 

AUTHORITIES.— Hildreth's History of the United States, Vols. III.. IV.; Schouler's 
History of the United States, Vol. I. ; McMaster's History of the People of the United 
States, Vol. I.; Irving's Lifeof Washington; Rives's Life of Madison; Jefferson, Mad- 
ison, Monroe, Adams. American Statesmen Series; Madison Papers; William Wirt 
Henry's Life of Patrick Henry ; Rowland's Memoir of George Mason; Winsor's Nar- 
rative and Critical History of the United States, Vol. VI. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. Tellsomeof the acts of the first Congress. 2. What was 
thought the best way to raise a revenue ? 3. How was a protective tariff re- 
garded by the New England States? by the Middle States? by the Southern 
States ? 4. How was the tax on slaves regarded ? 5. In what year was the 
first thanksgiving day appointed by the President? 6. What was Hamilton's 
financial policy? 7. What petition came in from the Quakers? 8. By whom 
was it headed? 9. How did Congress treat it? 10. Where was the National 
Capital finally situated? 11. What territory did North Carolina give tip? 
12. When was the United States Bank established? 13. When were Vermont 
and Kentucky admitted to the Union ? 14. AVho was the first Chief Justice ? 
15. When did Washington make his northern and southern tours ? 16. How 
many inhabitants had the country in 1790? 



CHAPTER XLVI. 

WASHINGTON'S ADMINISTRATION, CONTINUED. 

St. Clair's Defeat, 1791. — There was trouble in the north- 
west with the Indians, and General St. Clair set out from 
Fort Washington — where Cincinnati was showing a cluster 
of log huts — and went to reduce the Indians of the region 
to submission. On the morning of November 4th a band of 
Indians attacked the militia camp on St. Mary's Creek. 
The regulars formed to repel the attack, but the panic- 
stricken militia rushed among and over them in headlong 
flight and threw them into confusion. The regulars fought 
bravely, but the Indians proved too strong for them, and 
immediate retreat was necessary. So hurried was the 
movement that everything was abandoned in the flight, 



Washington!' s Administration. 251 

which carried the fugitives twenty-nine miles by sunset, a dis- 
tance over which they had loitered two weeks on their ad- 
vance ; 900 men fell in this unfortunate expedition, 600 
being killed outright. 

Second Congress, 1791. — The second Congress met in 
Philadelphia on October 24th. When the news of St. 
Clair's defeat and of the terror along the frontier was 
received. Congress passed a bill for the further increase of 
the army to about 5,000 men, with the necessary officers. 
The command was given to General Wayne of Revolu- 
tionary fame. There was a strong feeling of opposition to 
the government in this second Congress, and the increase 
of the army was one of the measures combatted. The 
parties had changed from Federal and Anti-Fedeial, to 
Federal and Federal-Republican, the latter afterwards 
known as Democrats. ITamilton was the leader of the 
Federal party, Jefferson of the Republican or Democratic, 
and the opposition between the two became constantly more 
active. Notwithstanding these differences of opinion, the 
work of this second Congress, like that of the first, was 
directed to the successful operation of the new government. 

Aaron Burr. — One of the most remarkable men of the 
body was Aaron Burr, whose brilliant intellect, fine educa- 
tion, excellent early training, and distinguished position only 
deepened the infamy into which he afterwards fell. 

Re-election of Washington and Adams, 1792. — General 
Washington was again unanimously elected President and 
Adams received a majority of the votes 
for Vice-President, and both were inau- 
gurated on March 4, 1793. 

Threatened War, 1793.— The strife on 
the frontier, the quarrels between the po- 
litical parties, and the various internal 
difficulties in the States were soon over- 
shadowed by trouble wliich threatened 
from abroad. France had been, you re- 
member, the ally by whose aid the Amer- .,oiin adams. 
ican colonies had succeeded in throwing 
off the British yoke and establishing their independence, 
and a strong attachment was felt for her by the Americans. 
In April, France declared war against Great Britain and 




252 History of the United States. 

Holland, and immediately a fierce spirit sprang up against 
them in the States. The enmity of ten years before was 
ready to break out against the English; and there was a 
feeling that the Americans should stand by France as she 
had stood by them. But the sound judgment and resolute 
character of Washington saved the young nation from so 
fatal a mistake. He issued a proclamation of neutrality, 
declaring that the United States would continue her friendly 
relations with all the contending nations, and forbidding 
American citizens to aid and abet any one of them. 

Sympathy with France. — Up to this time opposition to the 
government had refrained from attacking the President. 
His purity of character, disinterested patriotism, and well 
known dislike of monarchical institutions had protected him 
from reproach; but now abuse was poured upon him 
in the newspapers for thwarting the nation's desire to 
take sides with the French. He was accused of sympa- 
thizing with the English and even of desiring to be made a 
king. 

Citizen Genet. — Citizen Genet, the minister from the 
French Republic, took advantage of this adverse feeling to 
violate the neutrality proclamation. He fitted out privateers 
in American ports and brought the prizes taken by them 
ir!,to American waters; and when he was informed that such 
proceedings could not be tolerated, he went so far as to ad- 
dress insulting language to Washington himself. But the 
President was not a man to be turned from any course of 
conduct he believed to be right, and he requested the French 
government to recall Genet. The French Republic then dis- 
missed Governeur Morris, the American minister, who was 
succeeded by Mr. Monroe. 

American Ships Stopped by the British. — France had 
given permission to neutral vessels to trade in her ports, 
and ships from the United States found it very profitable to 
carry thither supplies of all kinds. Great Britain resolved 
to prevent this and British cruisers were ordered to stop all 
vessels trading to French ports. England also claimed the 
right to stop any vessels she chose and seize the persons of 
any Englishmen found on them to fill up her navy. There 
was always a pretence made that the men seized were desert- 
ers from the navy, but generally this charge was untrue and 



Washington's Administration. 253 

many of those taken from American vessels were American 
citizens. 

Jay's Treaty, 1794. — The outrages upon American ships 
under the "orders in council" and the enforced "right of 
search " came very near bringing on war with Great Britain. 
But Washington knew that the country was wholly unpre- 
pared for such a contest; he therefore laid an embargo — 
prohibited vessels to sail from any American port for thirty 
days — and sent Chief-Justice Jay to England with full pow- 
ers to negotiate the best treaty possible for the protection of 
American rights. Jay procured a treaty, unsatisfactory in 
some points, but better than plunging into war; and Wash- 
ington, well knowing it would be very unpopular, signed it 
and the Senate ratified it. A storm of indignation broke 
out all over the country; individuals, societies, and State 
legislatures all denounced the treaty. The President was 
vilified and Mr. Jay burnt in effigy. 

Navy — Indian War, 1794. — The depredations of the Alge- 
rine pirates upon American ships caused Congress to estab- 
lish a permanent navy, and order vessels of war to be built. 
The Indians in the northwest continued so hostile that Gen- 
eral Wayne was forced to push active operations against 
them. He succeeded in routing them near the Maumee 
River, and finally induced them to consent to treaties of 
peace. 

Whiskey Insurrection, 1794. — You remember that a tax 
or " excise" had been laid upon all spirituous liquors. A 
great deal of whiskey was distilled in the Pennsylvania 
mountains, and the makers refused to pay the tax and 
banded together to resist any efforts to collect it. A good 
deal of desultory fighting took place, and outrages and 
murders were committed in this " Whiskey Insurrection." 
Washington issued a proclamation calling upon all men to 
obey the laws, and notifying the offenders that they would 
be forced to do so. As this failed to diminish the resistance, 
a large militia force from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Mary- 
land, and Virginia was called for. The command of the 
whole was given to General Henry Lee, " Light Horse 
Harry." When the rebellious whiskey men heard that this 
formidable force was marching against them, they grew 
wiser and surrendered. 



254 



History of the United Slates. 



Washington's Farewell to the People, 1796.— Washington 
had grown weary of the cares and difficulties of his long 
public service. He therefore resisted all solicitations to 
allow a second re-election, and issued a farewell address to 
the people of the United States, to which the whole nation, 
responded with devotion and affection. 

Election of John 
Adams. — Washington 
alone could have been 
unanimously elected, 
and, failing him, John 
Adams was made Presi- 
dent and Thomas Jef- 
ferson Vice-President. 
Death of Washing-- 
ton, 1799.— The illus- 
trious first President 
retired to private life 
at Mt. Vernon, where 
he died after a brief ill- 
ness, on December 14, 1799, beloved and honored by all 
Americans and possessing the admiration and respect of 
the whole civilized world. 




MT. VERNON. 



AUTHORITIES.— Hildreth's History of the United States. Vols. IV., V . VI.; Schoul- 
er's History of the United States, Vol. II. ; McMaster's History of the People of the 
United States, Vols. II., III., IV.; Winsor's Narrative and Critical History of the 
United States, Vol. VII. ; Irving's Life of Wasliington; Rives's Life of Madison; Jef- 
ferson, Madison, Monroe, Adams, American Statesmen Series; Madison Papers; Alex- 
ander Johnston's History and Constitution of the United States ; Appleton's Encyclo- 
pedia; Encyclopedia of American Biography. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. Tell of the defeat of St. Clair by the Indians? 3. Who 
was next sent out against them ? 3. What parties now arose in Congress ? 
4. Describe Aaron Burr. 5. Tell of the second election of the President? 
6. With what nation was war threatened in 1793? 7. What stand did Wash- 
ington take? 8. How was it regarded by the country? 9. Tell of Citizen 
Genet. 10. What injustice did England commit on American ships? 11. How 
did Washington act? 12. Tell of the Algerine pirates and the Indian war of 
1794. 13. What was the " whiskey insurrection " ? 14. When did Washing- 
ton retire from public; life? 15. Who were elected at the third presidential 
term? 16. When and where did Washington die? 17. Be sure to find all the 
places mentioned. 



CHAPTER XLVII. • 

ADAMS'S ADMINISTRATION— PROGRESS OF THE COUNTRY. 

Administration of Adams, 1797-1801. — The administra- 
tion of John Adams was a time of much political strife, 
during which the Federal Party lost its great power. Almost 
any man coming after Washington would have appeared at 
a disadvantage, and Adams was not always great, resolute, 
and noble as his predecessor had been. 

Threatened Trouble with France. — The principal trouble 
of his administration was with France. That unhappy 
country had fallen into the hands of the Directory. The 
neutrality of America gave great offence to this new gov- 
ernment. It refused to receive Mr. Pinckney, the American 
ambassador; and when John Marshall and Elbridge Gerry 
were sent out to act with him, all three of them were treated 
with discourtesy and not allowed to present their credentials. 
M. Talleyrand, the French secretary of state, intimated to 
them that if they would raise a large sum of money, part 
as a loan to France and part as a bribe or tribute to the 
members of the Directory, some satisfactory negotiations 
might be reached. To this suggestion, Mr. Pinckney made 
the eloquent retort: "Millions for defence, but not a cent 
for tribute." France assumed a threatening attitude; a 
number of American ships were seized by French cruisers, 
and severe engagements took place between American and 
French war vessels. In this emergency, General Washing- 
ton had consented to take command of the United States 
Army " in the event of an invasion." But the Directory was 
overthrown by Napoleon Bonaparte, who received a new 
embassy graciously, and made a treaty with them which 
was at once ratified by both nations. 

Alien and Sedition Laws. — In the heat of the quarrel 
with. France Congress had, under the advice of the Presi- 
dent, passed an "alien law," empowering him to send out 
of the country any foreigner who was thought to be stir- 
ring up hostility to the government, and a " sedition law," 
forbidding under heavy penalty the publishing of anything 

[355] 




256 History of the United States. 

injurious to or abusive of the government officers. These 
laws were opposed by the Republican-Democrats as placing 
too much power in the hands of the Presi- 
dent and as curtailing the " liberty of 
the press " to a most dangerous extent. 
Virginia and Kentucky pronounced both 
acts a violation of the Constitution. 
Their unpopularity rebounded on the 
head of the President who rapidly lost 
favor with the people. In 1800, during 
the last week of his administration, Mr. 
MARSHALL. Adauis appoluted John Marshall of Vir- 

ginia to the office of chief justice, a position which he filled 
with wisdom for thirty-five years. 

Progress of the Country — Tennessee Admitted to the Union, 
1796. — The political history of the United State is not all 
that is important to be known. The advance of the country 
in extent, in population, in the development of its resources, 
and in material and intellectual growth, is full of incident 
and interest. To the thirteen States east of the Alleghanies 
had been added, as you have seen, the territories north and 
south of the Ohio. Vermont had become a State in 1791, 
Kentucky in 1792, Tennessee was admitted into the Union 
in 1796, and in 1800 the Northwest Territory was divided 
into the Territories of Ohio and Indiana, each with its sepa- 
rate government. This addition of States was compelled by 
the wonderful increase of population. 

Increase of Population. — At the- beginning of the Revolu- 
tion, the population of the colonies was roughly estimated 
at about three millions. In 1790 it had increased to very 
nearly four millions, and in 1800 was largely over five mil- 
lions. The most marked growth was in the new States of 
Kentucky and Tennessee, where the number of settlers had 
almost trebled in ten years. The older members of the 
Union showed also considerable gain. The fact that the 
increase in population in New England was not so large as 
in the Middle and Southern States, has been taken as a 
proof that the principal emigration to the west was from 
that section; but Kentucky and Tennessee owed their 
increase of people mainly to Virginia and North Carolina. 
Nearly all of this growth of numbers was due to the 



105 Longitude 




^ O X F I C 

A>, 165 



- 0' 

ALASKA^ ^^-""^- ■-(X^Ngv.^ngU 



Adams's Administration. 257 

natural increase of the American people, the number of 
foreigners coming into the country being very small up to 
1815. 

French Refugees from Hayti, 1793. — The negroes in 
Ha3'ti, stirred up to violence by news of the Revolution in 
Paris, rose in insurrection against their masters, burning 
and destroying property, and slaying hundreds of the whites 
in a massacre at Cape Franyois. The terrified French people 
fled for their lives, and thousands of them came to America. 
Their condition was pitiable. Numbers of them were res- 
cued by their slaves at the last moment and carried to the 
ships without money or clothing save what they had on. 
Much sympathy and kindness was shown them, and 
clothing, food, shelter, and employment were provided for 
them. 

Yellow Fever in Philadelphia and New York. — Following 
closely in their track, yellow fever broke out in Philadel- 
phia. In four months, 4,044 people had died, one-tenth of 
the whole population. In 1794, the fever prevailed for 
a while in New York, and again in 1797 and 1798 in Phila- 
delphia and other nothern cities; panic, suffering, and many 
deaths were caused by it. 

Material Development. — The commerce of the country in- 
creased even more rapidly than the population. The de- 
velopment of the natural resources of the land kept pace 
with its other advance. Coal had been used as fuel for 
nearly forty years, from the mines near Richmond, Virginia, 
from the hills around Pittsburgh, and from Tiverton, New 
Jersey. Now it was found that the black stones in the Le- 
high Valley were anthracite coal, and a company was organ- 
ized to mine and sell it. The filling up of the western coun- 
try required good modes of communication, and the atten- 
tion of the State legislatures and of Congress was turned to 
the necessity of making roads. Turnpikes laid with stone 
were easy to make and keep in order in the uplands where 
an abundance of rock was to be found; but in the low tide- 
water country, a good road was an impossibility during the 
period of alternate freezings and thawings. The best road 
for a long time was the Lancaster turnpike from Philadel- 
phia to Lancaster and westward. The difiiculties of steam 
navigation which had hindered the success of Rumsey, 
17 



258 History of the United States. 

Fitch, and others, were succesfully overcome, within the 
next ten years, by Robert Fulton. 

Whitney's Cotton Gin. — Two thousand and sixty patents 
issued before the year 1800 show that America had started 
on that career of invention which has since made her 
famous throughout the world. One of these early contri- 
vances has never been surpassed in its immense effects 
upon the industries and destinies of a nation. Eli Whitney, 
a clever young man from Connecticut, had been befriended 
in Georgia by the widow of General Nathanael Greene, l^a- 
menting the labor of getting the fibre of the cotton boll 
from the seed, Mrs. Greene one day suggested to Mr. Whit- 
ney, of whose mechanical skill she had a great opinion, that 
he should invent some machine to simplify the work. Act- 
ing on this hint, Whitney set his brain and hands to work 
and succeeded in making the first cotton gin. A negro 
woman could "pick" only a pound of cotton a dsij. Whit- 
-^ ney's gin cleaned the seed from 
; -~' three hundred pounds in the same 

time. It was at once received 
with great favor. Cotton became 
the staple product and the source 
of immense wealth in the South- 
ern States. Having so much ma- 
terial within reach also stimulated 
■'•-'« % the manufacturing spirit in the 
^-^.*. "i i North, and especially in New 
England. Cotton factories sprang 
up along the swiftly-flowing 
rivers. Slave labor to supply 
^^^s^^m them with the white fibres became 




Eu wHiTNEv. Q^ great importance, and the out- 

cry against the sin committed by the Southern States in 
continuing to hold slaves ceased to be heard. Northern 
settlers at the South became slave-owners as soon as they 
found it to their interest. 

Removal of the Government to Washington, 1800. — In the 
summer of this year, the National Government was removed 
to the city of Washington. Since 1793 preparations had 
been making to prepare a place for it ; but the city was a 
straggling collection of wretched houses, with the half- 



Adams's Administration. 259 

finished Capitol at one end and the President's house at the 
other. Mrs. Adams, in going thither to join the President 
in the fall, got lost in the woods between Baltimore and 
Washington, and on reaching her destination she found her 
new home tlioroughly uncomfortable and wanting all the 
luxuries as well as many of the necessities of refined life. 

Lotteries. — What had been accomplished towards making 
a National Capital had been done mainly by means of a lot- 
tery. So had the famous Lancaster turnpike been laid, so 
had numerous and valuable canals been dug. Manufac- 
tories, libraries, churches, schools, anything and everything, 
used lotteries as the surest way of raising funds to accom- 
plish their objects. In these days we look upon them as 
injurious modes of gambling, but in 1800 their evils were 
not so clearly seen. 

Education and Literature. — Education and literature had 
made mighty strides forward. The nine colleges before the 
Revolution had become twenty-three. Of these, nine were 
in the Southern States, six in the Middle States, six in New 
England, and two in the new State of Kentucky. The 
thirty-seven newspapers of 1776 had increased to two hun- 
dred, many of them dailies. These papers were published 
from Maine to Georgia. The rising towns in Kentucky and 
Tennessee and the embryo city of Cincinnati each had their 
rude printing-presses and their own newspapers. Of litera- 
ture, in the sense of book-making, there was little; but the 
period was fertile in able political essays and speeches. The 
newspapers were not carried in the mails, although the 
post-offices had increased to upwards of nine hundred. But 
the mail-riders and coaches were allowed to take them 
through the country in separate bags. 

Increase in the Churches. — Religious freedom had been 
guaranteed by the Constitution and by the laws of the dif- 
ferent States, and the churches, under this wise provision, 
awoke to new life. During colonial times the Church of 
England had steadily refused to allow bishops in America. 
In 1784 Dr. Seabury had been consecrated bishop for the 
diocese of Connecticut by Scotch bishops at Aberdeen. 
Three years later White of Pennsylvania and Prevost of New 
York received consecration at Lambeth, and in 1790 Bishop 
Madison of Virginia also was consecrated in England. The 



260 History of the United States. 

American bishops then bestowed orders upon others of their 
brethren elected to the episcopate, so that there were now 
seven bishops in the American Episcopal Church. Charles 
and John Wesley and Whitefield had been in Georgia, but 
little was done to establish the Methodist Church, until their 
bishops. Coke and Francis Asbury, took up the work in 
1797. Baptists had flourished in Rhode Island from the 
date of its settlement; now they were spread all over the 
States, but particularly in the west, and had over a thou- 
sand churches. Presbyterians had come in numbers from 
the Old Country, and were flourishing and extending their 
special forms of faith and worship southward and westward. 
All forms of Protestantism were asserting themselves forci- 
bly, and Sunday schools were established in many locali- 
ties. This is the more remarkable because, under the influ- 
ence of French teaching and the writings of Tom Paine, 
infidelity was striving to undermine Christianity, and had 
become quite fashionable among those who professed to be 
very wise and enlightened. 

AUTHORITIES.— Hildreth's History of the United States, Vols. IV., V., VI. ; Sehoul- 
er's History of tlie United States, Vol. II.; McMaster"s History of the People of the 
United States, Vols. II., Ill , IV.; Winsor's Narrative and Critical History of the 
United States. Vol. VII.' Irving's Life of Washington; Rives's Life of Madison; 
Madison, Jefferson, Monroe, Adams, American Statesmen Series; Madison Papers ; 
Alexander Johnston's History and Constitution of the United States; Appleton's En- 
cyclopedia; Encyclopedia of American Biography. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. AVas Adams's administration peaceful? 3. Tell of the 
envoys to France and of Pinekney's famous reply ? 3. What almost brought 
on war ? 4. What laws were passed ? 5. How did Virginia and Kentucky 
regard them ? 6. How long was John Marshall chief justice of the United 
States ? 7. Tell of the progress of the country. 8> When was Tennessee 
admitted to the Union ? 9. AVhat of the increase of population ? 10. What 
refugees sought protection in the United States? 11. Tell of the yellow fever 
in Philadelphia and New York. 12. Of the material development of the 
country. 13. Who invented the cotton gin, and what is it? 14. When did 
the Government remove to Washington City ? 15. How were lotteries regarded 
in those days? 16. Tell of the colleges and newspapers. 17. The increase in 
the churches. 



CHAPTER XLVIII. 

JEFFERSOlSfS ADMINISTRA TION. 

Jefferson's Election, 1800. — When the electoral vote was 
counted in December, 1800, there was found to be a tie be- 
tween Thomas Jefferson of Virginia and Aaron Burr of New 
York. The House of Representatives was therefore called 
upon to decide between them. Jefferson was elected Presi- 
dent and Burr Vice-President, and their inauguration took 
place in AVashington on March 4, 1801. Jefferson was an 
enthusiastic Republican. He believed sincerely that the 
people should govern themselves and that the wishes of the 
majority should always prevail, but he did not think that 
the minority should be disregarded and trampled upon. 

His Republican Simplicity. — So consistent was he, that he 
would not countenance even the simple ceremony which had 
attended the inaugurations of Washington and Adams. 
With few attendants, he rode on horseback to the Capitol, 
wearing a plain citizen's dress of homespun cloth, tied his 
horse to a post, and entered the Senate Chamber, where the 
oath of ofhce was administered to him by Chief-Justice 
Marshall. With the same simplicity, he declined to deliver 
his message to Congress in person, but sent it to be read by 
another, which practice has been followed by every Presi- 
dent since. The message itself was full of kindliness to- 
wards all parties and classes of the people. It asserted the 
right of popular government and the principles on which it 
would prove strong and beneficent, and announced that the 
rights of a minority must be preserved and protected b}'^ the 
law equally with those of a majority. 

Jefferson's Cabinet. — Jefferson chose as his Cabinet, James 
Madison of Virginia, Secretary of State; Albert Gallatin, a 
Swiss resident of Pennsylvania, Secretary of the Treasury; 
Henry Dearborn of Massachusetts, Secretary of War; Lin- 
coln of the same State, Attorney-General; Robert Smith of 
Maryland, Secretary of the Navy; and Gideon Granger of 
Connecticut, Postmaster-General. Alexander Hamilton had 
been charged with underhand dealings while he was at the 

[261] 



362 History of the United States. 

17th, passed an Ordinance of Secession, by a large majority. 
The members opposed to it were principally from the west- 
ern part of the State where there were many Northern set- 
tlers, whose opinions were like those of Ohio and Pennsyl- 
vania. North Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas soon fol- 
lowed Virginia's example; and all four of them joined the 
Southern Confederacy. Maryland, Kentucky, Missouri, and 
Delaware were also slave-holding States, l)ut they never 
seceded. The first three attempted to remain neutral, but 
were forcibly brought under the Federal power, though each 
gave many soldiers to the Southern army and had fierce bat- 
tles fought on its soil. Under the sanction of the governor 
of Maryland, many members of the legislature of the State 
were imprisoned by order of the Secretary of War and Gen- 
eral McClellan, to prevent their passing an ordinance of 
secession. Missouri was largely in favor of secession, but 
the Northern politicians were too strong to permit it, though 
they could not prevent her becoming a bloody battle-ground. 
Delaware sympathized with the North. 

Disparity Between the North and the South. — The open- 
ing of the war found both parties unprepared for a pro- 
longed struggle, but the North, with more than 20,000,000 of 
people, had a regular army, though small 
and scattered ; arsenals ; manufactories of 
arms ; powder mills ; an organized navy ; 
and, by its outcry against slavery and rebel- 
lion, soon enlisted the sympathy of almost all 
the world. The South, with only 9,000,000 
people, more than 3,000,000 of them negroes, 
had neither army nor navy, neither manu- 
8AMTJEL COOPER, VA. f^^^^^^^^ ^f ^rms uor powder mills. Gene- 
ral Floyd, Secretary of War under Buchanan, after the John 
Brown alarm, had given the Southern States, as their share 
of arms in the arsenals, a number of indifferent muskets 
and some cannon ; but these were nothing like enough to 
supply their soldiers. 

Confederate Soldiers. — In two respects the Confederacy 
was equal to the United States — the ability and character of 
her officers and the almost universal devotion of her people. 
With few exceptions, the Southern officers of the Army and 
Navy felt it their highest duty to devote their services to 




Lincoln's Administration, 1S61. 



303 



their native States. They were among the best in their dif- 
ferent lines, and proceeded at once to give discipline and 
efficiency to the untried and untrained soldiers put under 
their authority. General Samuel Cooper, the Adjutant and 
Inspector-General of the United States Army, resigned and 
accepted the same position under the Confederacy. Robert 
E. Lee and Joseph E. Johnston of Virginia, and Albert Sid- 
ney Johnston, a native of Kentucky but a citizen of Texas, 
were tlie acknowledged lead- 
ers among the numbers of 
officers who at once took 
sides with their States. 
Their ability and experi- 
ence placed them in the 
most responsible positions. 
Lee was immediately made 
Commander-in-chief of the 
Virginia forces ; Joseph E. 
Johnston was put in com- 
mand at Harper's Ferry, 
and Albert Sidney John- 
ston, who came from Cali- 
fornia to Richmond to offer 
his sword to the Confede- 
racy, was given the chief 
military authority in the 
West. The soldiers them- 
selves were of every rank 
and age. "The contagion 
of a generous patriotism " 
sei/.ed the whole people from 
the Potomac to the Rio Grande, and the lowly and the well- 
born, old men and beardless boys, were eager to defend their 
country. The women of every degree, mothers, wives, sis- 
ters, and sweethearts, shared in the enthusiasm, and with 
tears on their faces, but unfaltering courage in their hearts, 
prepared th(ur loved ones to join the army. 

Harper's Ferry and the Gosport Navy-Yard. — Thus, when 
the Confederate States government called for troops, it met 
with a quick response everywhere throughout the South. Vir- 
ginia made haste to take possession of the armory at Harper's 




LEAVING HOMK. 



264 History of the United States, 

Alexander Hamilton was opposed to duelling, but did not 
think he could decline to fight. Burr was a fine marksman 
and practiced constantly with his pistol, so that when the 
duel took place on July 11th, he shot Hamilton in the side 
so fatally that he lived only a few hours. Hamilton fired 
his pistol in the air, for he had no wish to kill Burr. He 
fell, at the age of forty-seven, a victim to a false idea of 
honor, which led him to do what he wholly disapproved, 
but had not the moral courage to refuse. 

Burr's Conspiracy, 1805-7. — Burr was more restless and 
dissatisfied than ever, and before a great while he was 
believed to be getting up a conspiracy to seize on the south- 
western part of the country and set up another government, 
over which he was to be king or dictator. He was arrested 
and tried in Richmond, Virginia, before Chief-Justice Mar- 
shall, for treason, but there was so little evidence against 
him that his guilt could not be proved. An Irish gentle- 
man named Blennerhassett lived with his beautiful wife on 
an island in the Ohio River, near the mouth of the Little 
Kanawha. He had become very friendly with Burr, and 
preparations were making at his island for an expedition 
down the Mississippi River to carry out Burr's project, 
whatever it was. Blennerhassett was arrested as well as 
Burr, and, like him, was let off" for want of direct evidence 
against him. But his lovely home was ruined, and he died 
a fugitive and exile. 

Commercial Troubles. — Commercial troubles harassed 
Jefferson's second administration. War was raging in 
Europe, and England, France and Spain all made laws 
injurious to American trade. Mr. Jefferson was determined 
to follow Washington's policy of neutrality and not to take 
sides in the war. But this did not protect American vessels 
from attack by both France and England. The British 
ships were specially offensive in boarding them and taking 
off the sailors under pretence that they were Englishmen. 
The American man-of-war Chesapeake, with thirty-eight guns, 
was attacked in 1807 very near the American coast by the 
British frigate Leopard, which carried fifty guns, and four 
of her sailors were taken from her. In consequence of this 
outrage, all English ships were ordered to leave American 
ports, and by Mr. Jefferson's advice Congress laid an 



Jeffersori's Administration. 



2Q>[ 



embargo, as Washington had done, and forbade American 
ships to leave the American shores. This restriction of 
their trade was specially unpopular in New England, and 
loud threats of disunion were again heard, while the law 
was constantly evaded. The embargo was repealed in 1809, 
but commercial intercourse was forbidden with England 
and France. 

Extinction of Slave Trade — Purchase of Indian Lands. — 
Besides the acquisition of the great Louisiana territory, Mr. 
Jefferson's administration is memorable for the extinction 
of the African slave trade, which was forbidden by law in 
3 808. The policy was then first introduced of purchasing 
from the diminishing Indian tribes the lands which they 




UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA. 



claimed, and removing the Indians to special districts, or 
"reservations," set apart for them. In this way large tracts 
were gained from the scattered tribes both north and south 
of the Ohio. 

Madison's Election. — Mr. Jefferson was opposed to a third 
term of the presidency for anyone man. He was succeeded 
by James Madison of Virginia, who was elected in Decem- 
ber, 1808, and inaugurated in 1809, George Clinton being 
again Vice-President." 

Establishment of the University of Virginia. — Jefferson 
retired to private life at Monticello, where he spent the 



266 History of the United States. 

remainder of his life, and where the bountiful hospitality 
extended to hosts of visitors brought him greatly in debt. 
The special object of his latter years was the establishing of 
the University of Virginia, which was chartered in 1819, and 
of which he was the first Rector. 

Ohio Admitted Into the Union, 1802. — Ohio had been 
admitted into the Union as the seventeenth State on April 
30, 1802, and in February, 1809, the Indiana Territory was 
divided, that part west of the Wabash being known as the 
Territory of Illinois. 

Fulton's Steamboat, 1807. — In 1807 Robert Fulton put on 
the Hudson River the first steamboat which ever proved a 
complete success, and in a few years similar boats were 
passing up and down all the large rivers and increasing the 
travel and trade between the different parts of the United 
States. 

AUTHORITIES.— Hildreth's History of the United States, Vols. IV., V., VI.; Sehoul- 
er's History of the United States, Vol. II.; McMaster's History of the People of the 
United States, Vols. II., III., IV.; Winsor's Narrative and Critical History of the 
United States, Vol. VII.; Rives's Life of Madison; Jefferson. Madison. Monroe, 
Adams, American Statesmen Series; Madison Papers; Alexander Johnston's History 
and Constitution of the United States; Appletou's Encyclopedia; Encyclopedia of 
American Biography. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. Who was elected President in 1800? 3. Tell of his re- 
publican simplicity. 3. Who formed his Cabinet? 4. Of what charge was 
Hamilton cleared? 5. What caused a war with Tripoli? 6. Where is Trip- 
oli? 7. Tell of Decatur and t\iQ Philadelphia. 8. What great purchase was 
made in 1803? 9. What regions did Louisiana then embrace? 10. Tell of 
Lewis and Clarke's explorations. 11. Who had discovered the Columbia 
River? 12. What threat did England make? 13. Who was elected Presi- 
dent in 1804? 14. Tell of the duel between Hamilton and Burr. 15. Of 
Burr's conspiracy. 16. The fate of Blennerhassett. 17. What commercial 
troubles arose? 18. When was the slave trade forbidden? 19. How was 
land now obtained from the Indians? 20. Who was elected in 1808? 21. Tell 
of the University of Virginia. 33. When was Ohio admitted ? 23. Tell of 
Fulton's steamboat. 



CHAPTER XLIX. 

MADISON'S ADMINISTRATION— WAR OF 1S12. 

Madison's Administration, 1809-1817. — Like Washington 
and Jeff^erson, James Madison was twice elected and was 
President for eight years, from 1809 to 1817. It was a time 
of trouble when he was first made President. The embargo 




TECUMSEH. 



War of 181^. 267 

had been repealed, but trade was forbidden with France or 
England. 

Tecumseh, 1811. — Before the hostility, which had con- 
tinued since the outrage upon the Chesapeake in 1807, assumed 
an active form, there was a fierce en- 
counter in the west between the Indians 
and the United States. William Henry 
Harrison was the leader of the whites 
in this contest. The Indians were under 
the guidance of two Shawnee brothers, 
Tecumseh and Elkswatawa, the latter 
known as the Prophet. Tecumseh was 
eloquent, brave, crafty, able in con- 
trolling and combining his adherents, 
and cruel towards his enemies. He was impatient of white 
control, and was moreover incited to hostility against the 
Americans by the English in Canada. With the assistance 
of his brother, who professed to foresee the future and prophe- 
sied success to their efforts, he stirred up and organized the 
Indians of the Northwest. They had a meeting place on 
Tippecanoe Creek, which flows into the Wabash. Governor 
Harrison made a treaty with the Indians near him, and 
paid them to cede their lands on the Wabash to the United 
States. This made Tecumseh and the Prophet very angry. 
Tecumseh went from place to place, even as far south as 
Georgia, inciting the Indians to unite and rise up against 
their hated neighbors. 

Battle of Tippecanoe, 1811. — Outrages perpetrated in the 
Wabash country alarmed the settlers, and Governor Harri- 
son collected a force of about 1,000 men — militia, volunteers, 
and regulars — with which he advanced upon the Prophet's 
town of Tippecanoe on November 8th. Tecumseh was 
absent and his brother asked for a conference. This was 
granted. Before daylight the next morning the Indians 
attacked Harrison's camp, hoping to overcome him by sur- 
prise. The troops fought bravely until daylight and drove 
off the Indians with their bayonets. The whites lost 180 
men, but gained a decisive victory, and the next day burned 
the Prophet's town, which they found completely deserted. 

Increase of the Army. — Before the news of this victory 
reached Washington, Congress had assembled. A large 



268 History of the United States. 

majority of the members were keen for a declaration of war 
against England and steps were taken to prepare for it. 
Large additions were ordered to be made to the army. The 
President was authorized to accept 5U,000 volunteers and to 
call out what militia was necessary. Provision was also 
made to fit out vessels belonging to the navy and to allow 
all merchant ships to arm themselves. 

War Declared Against England, 1812. — These measures 
were not passed without opposition. The New England 
States were very earnest against war, and their representa- 
tives were sustained by John Randolph of Roanoke, who, 
though from Virginia, was the most active opponent of the 
war party. From his entrance into Congress, in 1799, Ran- 
dolph had been the strongest speaker on the floor, as far as 
brilliant wit, keen irony, and passionate invective could 
make him so. All his sarcasm, all his ridicule, poured out 
against the advocates of war and their measures, were met 
with calm logic by Calhoun and sparkling eloquence by 
Henry Clay. An embargo to allow time for warlike prepa- 
rations was passed on April 4th, and on the 8th of June war 
was declared with the approbation of the country. New Eng- 
land excepted. 

Engagements on Land and Sea. — On land, the plan was 
to attack and seize Canada; but the opening effort, in which 
General William Hull at Detroit surrendered that post and 
the whole of Michigan Territory to General Brock and 
Tecumseh, was not encouraging. The same inefficiency 
characterized all the land operations of the year. But these 
failures were overbalanced by brilliant successes at sea. 
The British frigate Guerrihre was attacked off the Gulf of St. 
Lawrence by the United States ship Constitution, commanded 
by Captain Isaac Hull, and captured after a two hours' fight 
on August 19th, three days after the other Hull had surren- 
dered Detroit. This was the first time that a British frigate 
had been forced to surrender, and the victory made a. great 
sensation. Three other naval successes followed during the 
year. The American Wasp captured the English Frolic; in 
his ship. United States, Captain Stephen Decatur, who had so 
bravely burnt the Philadelphia in the harbor of Tripoli, 
fought the Macedonian near the Madeira Islands and brought 
her as a prize to Newport; and the Constitution — " Old Iron- 



liar of 1812. 269 

sides," as she was afterwards called — again distinguished 
herself late in December by destroying the British frigate 
Java off the coast of Brazil. The privateers, too, did gallant 
work, capturing 300 prizes during the year. These suc- 
cesses astonished England who had for many years " ruled 
the waves," and greatly encouraged the Americans Congress 
made appropriations for enlarging the navy and building 
large new ships. On the lakes especially the building of 
smaller war vessels was rapidly carried on. 

Raisin River, 1813. — Madison was inaugurated for his 
second term on March 4, 1813. Misfortune had again be- 
fallen the Americans in the Northwest. General Harrison's 
army was surprised at the Raisin River on the morning of 
January 22d by a body of British and Indians, and sur- 
rendered. Many of the prisoners were abandoned to the 
cruelty of the Indians, and experienced outrage and tor- 
ture unspeakable before being murdered and scalped. 

Chesapeake Captured. — At sea Captain James Lawrence, 
while cruising off South America, in the iJornef, attacked the 
British ship Peacock, February 18th, and injured her so 
severely that she sank before her crew and three of the 
sailors from the Hornet could be taken off. Lawrence was pro- 
moted for this exploit, and given command of the Chesa- 
peake at Boston Harbor. Captain Broke, of the British 
frigate Shannon, challenged Lawrence to a fair fight between 
their ships. In this encounter Lawrence was mortally 
wounded, and despite his last order, " Don't give up the 
ship," the Chesapeake w^as boarded, captured, and carried a 
prize to Halifax. 

Battle of Lake Erie, 1813. — During this time a flotilla 
was built at the site of the town of Erie, 
under the direction of Captain Oliver H. 
Perry. Except timber, everything for build- 
ing and fitting out a vessel on the lakes 
had to be carried hundreds of miles in 
wagons or flatboats, and so the difficulties of 
building this fleet were great. At last it was 
ready, and Perry sailed out into the lake 
and offered battle to the British squadron. 
The engagement took place on September perky. 

10th, ten miles north of Put-in Bay. Perry's flag-ship, the 




270 History of the United States. 

Lawrence, was so much battered and disabled that, taking 
his flag in his hand, he dropped into a little boat, and through 
the hottest of the fight pulled to his next best ship, the Ni- 
agara, climbed up her side, hoisted his pennant, and running 
to close quarters with his enemies, won the victory in eight 
minutes. " We have met the enemy, and they are ours — 
two ships, two brigs, one schooner, and one sloop," was the 
message the victor wrote to General Harrison on the back 
of an old letter. Perry went back to the Laiurence, and there 
received the captains of the conquered ships. 

Battle of the Thames. — The way for Harrison was now 
opened. He had been reinforced by volunteers from Ohio 
and by- 3,600 mounted Kentuckians, com- 
manded by their governor, Shelby, in per- 
son, and he pressed forward with the watch- 
word, " Remember the River Raisin." The 
troops were carried to the Canada shore by 
Perry's fleet and the captured ships, and 
came up with the British and their Indian 
allies, strongly posted near the River 
Thames, on October 5th. In the fight Te- 
HARRisoN. cumseh was killed, report said by a pistol- 
shot from Colonel Johnson of Kentucky. This victory 
broke the Indian power in the northwest, restored Michigan 
to the United States, and gave General Harrison high repu- 
tation as a soldier, 

AUTHORITIES.— Hildreih's History of the United States, Vol. IV., V., VI.; Schoul- 
er's History of the United States, Vol.11.; McMaster's History of the People of the 
LTnited States, Vols. II., III., IV.; Winsor's Narrative and Critical History of the 
United Sates, Vol. VII.; Rives's Life of Madison; Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Adams, 
American Statesmen Series ; Madison Papers ; Alexander Jolinston's History and Con- 
stitution of the United States; Appleton's Encyclopedia; Encyclopedia of American 
Biography; Parton's Life of Andrew Jackson. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. Was Madison's a peaceful administration? 2. Wtiat 
war arose in tlie northwest? 3. Who were the Indian leaders? 4. Tell of 
their character and action. 5. Describe the battle of Tippecanoe. 6. Why 
was the" army increased ? 7. What war was declared in 1812? 8. Who were in 
favor of it, and who against it ? 9. What of the war on land ? on the sea ? 
10. Tell of the defeat at Raisin River. 11. The capture of the Chesapeake. 
12. The battle of Lake Erie. 13. The battle of the Thames, and the death 
of Tecumseh. 14. When was it? 15. Find the places on the map. 




CHAPTER L. 

MADISON'S ADMINISTRATION, CONTINUED. 

Fort Mimms, Ala., 1813. — Tecumseh in his tour among 
the southern Indians had excited the Creeks and the Semi- 
noles against the whites. After he left them, a comet 
blazing in the sky and an earthquake shock seemed to con- 
firm his threats and promises. The settlers along the Ala- 
bama River were alarmed at the hostile attitude of the 
Indians and fled for protection to Fort Mimms, a stockade on 
the river ten miles above its junction with the Tombigbee. 
Here they were attacked by the Creeks on August 30th. 
The fort was set on fire. A dreadful massacre ensued and 
four hundred whites were butchered or roasted to death. 
—Horseshoe Bend, 1813. — An army was speedily gathered 
from the neighboring States under command of General 
Andrew Jackson. The Creeks were defeated, 
and after the battle of the Horseshoe Bend, 
their half-breed leader Weathersford was 
captured, and their power finally broken. 

Chippewa and Lundy's Lane, 1814. — The 
battles of Chippewa and Lundy's Lane not^ 
far from Niagara were fought in July. In 
these engagements, the Americans were 
commanded by Generals Jacob Brown and 
Winfield Scott. Victory was on the side of the Americans 
but no lasting advantage ensued. The previous year, Eng- 
land had declared the American coast blockaded and had 
committed some damage along the shore. She now began 
a series of attacks and burnings upon the defenceless places 
on the coast. 

British in the Chesapeake Bay. — There were no ships of 
any size to defend the harbors or prevent the British fleet 
from going where it chose. Admiral Cockburn entered the 
Chesapeake, landed 5,000 men on the Patuxent River, and 
marched towards Washington. No steps had been taken to 
fortify the approaches to the city, and when the British had 
overcome the resistance of Winder and a handful of men 
at Bladensburg, they advanced without hindrance, 

[ 271 ] 




JACKSON. 



272 ' History of the United States. 

Burning ofWashdngton, 1814. — The President and his Cabi- 
net witnessed the short resistance at Bladensburg, and then 
took refuge, some in one place and some in another. Mrs. 
Madison hastily left the White House, carrying some of her 
valuable things away in a cart. She took care to have a 
fine portrait of General Washington preserved. General 
Ross took possession of the city, and proceeded to burn and 
destroy whatever was valuable. The unfinished Capitol, 
with the National Library, the Treasury, the President's 
House, and all other Government buildings except the 
Patent Office, were burned, and many private residences be- 
sides. 

Star Spang-led Banner. — At Baltimore the invaders could 
accomplish nothing. In a skirmish General Ross was 
killed, and the troops became discouraged. The fleet, too, 
after a furious bombardment of Fort McHenry which pro- 
tected the water approach to the city, failed to destroy or 
silence the fort, and the whole attacking party sullenly 
withdrew and sailed down the bay. It was on this occa- 
sion that Francis Scott Key, of Baltimore, who being a 
prisoner on one of the enemy's ships witnessed the bom- 
bardment, wrote the spirited lines of " The Star Spangled 
Banner," which at once was adopted as the national anthem. 

McDonough's Victory, 1814. — At the same time with the 
attack on the Atlantic coast, a force of 12,000 men made an 
advance into northern New York. Under command of Pre- 
vost, the British advanced upon Plattsburg which was com- 
manded by Captain McDonough. Against his fleet of four- 
teen vessels, the English Captain Downie brought his com- 
mand of sixteen ships with more and larger guns on Sep- 
tember 11th. When the enemy approached, McDonough 
kneeled down on the deck of his ship and prayed to God to 
protect and give him the victory. His prayer was heard, 
and after a desperate fight the British fleet surrendered. 
Prevost then abandoned the attack on land and retreated, 
leaving his disabled men, guns, and stores. 

General Andrew Jackson Fortifies New Orleans. — The 
strongest eff'ort of the enemy was now to be made against 
the southern coast, where the vicinity of the Spanish in 
Florida and the disaffection of the French population in 
Louisiana gave them hope of success. Some time before 



Madisoii's Administration. 



273 



this, Mobile had been seized by the Americans, and General 
Andrew Jackson was in command there. The Secretary of 
War ordered Jackson to take command at New Orleans, and 
called upon all the neighboring States to send forward their 
militia and arm them in any way they could. Prompt at- 
tention was given to these orders, and when Sir Edward 
Packingham with 12,000 veteran troops approached New 
Orleans by way of Lake Borgne, he found himself opposed 
by Jackson with 7,000 militia posted behind hastily made 




BATTLE OV NEW ORLEANS. 

[General Jackson kept his musicians playing during the whole action.] 

breast-works of cotton bales and swamp mud, with a broad 
deep ditch in front. 

Battle of New Orleans, 1815. — Packingham made an attack 
in the early morning of the 8th of January, all along Jack- 
son's lines on both sides of the river. Jackson's army was 
mainly of militia and volunteers, but they were expert 
marksmen and had brought their guns with them ; 2,500 
Kentuckians had arrived only a day or two before. The 
attack upon Morgan on the west side of the river was suc- 
cessful ; not so with Packingham's advance. His men came 
up carrying not only their muskets but fascines or bundles 
18 



274 History of the United States. 

of wood, by the aid of which they expected to cross the 
ditch and scale the earth-works. The Americans reserved 
their fire until the enemy came within two hundred yards, 
and then Tennessee and Kentucky riflemen poured a storm 
of bullets into them, while Jackson's nine heavy guns sent 
grape shot and canister crashing through their ranks. Sir 
Edward Packingham wasshotin thearm ; one after another 
his generals were killed, and at last a second ball struck him 
dead ; 2,000 British soldiers had fallen, and Lambert, next 
in command, ordered a retreat. Jackson had lost only 75 
men, but he did not think it wise to pursue his stronger foe. 
Tidings of this successful defence of New Orleans cheered 
the whole country ; aTe Deum thanksgiving for their deliv- 
erance was chanted in the Cathedral of the city, and Jack- 
son became the idol of the people. The news of the victory 
reached Washington almost at the same time with the 
tidings that a treaty of peace had been signed at Ghent 
between the United States and Great Britain. In this war 
the young nation had won respect for herself among the 
older powers as being able to hold her own by land and sea. 
Her sailors had proved equal to the best on the globe, and 
the courage and patriotism of her sons had been fully 
proven. 

Hartford Convention, 1814. — It was time, indeed, for peace 
to be made. The whole country was wearied and impover- 
ished by the war, and New England had become more and 
more dissatisfied, until at last there was talk of her making 
a separate peace for herself if hostilities continued. A con- 
vention of ultra-Federalist delegates from Massachusetts, 
Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Vermont 
met at Hartford on December 15th, to consider and promul- 
gate some plan of opposition to the general government. 
Their proceedings were looked upon with distrust and alarm 
by their fellow-citizens throughout the States. The Demo- 
cratic papers denounced them vehemently. No attention 
was paid to their arrogant resolutions, and the only results 
of the convention were disgrace to its members and destruc- 
tion to the Federalist party. 

Barbary States Chastised, 1815. — To defray the debt 
caused by the war, a National Bank was again set on foot, 
and a tariff protected the young industries, as had been 



Madison's Administration. 



275 



tried before in the days of Washington. The navy became a 
pet of the nation and soon vindicated its usefulness, when 
Commodore Decatur severely chastised the arrogant cruelty 
of the Barbary States. He sailed into the Straits of Gibral- 
tar in June, captured two Algerine frigates, and compelled 
Algiers, Tripoli, and Tunis, one after another, to give up 
their American prisoners, sign treaties of peace, and refrain 
from further molestation of American ships. 

Louisiana and Indiana Admitted to the Union, 1812 and 
1816. — Louisiana had become a State in 1812, and in 1816 
Indiana was also admitted to the Union. 

Southern Generals, — It is worthy of mention that of the 
four American generals who showed any military capacity 



4 - 









'•''i^'^WRw^^l 



JACKSON MONUMENT AT NEW ORLEANS. 



during the war of 1812, Brown, Harrison, Scott, and Jack- 
son, the last three were Southerners, Jackson being a native 
of North Carolina and Harrison and Scott of Virginia. 
Commodore Stephen Decatur also was Southern, being from 
Maryland. 

AUTHORITIES.— Hildreth's History of the United States, Vols. IV.. V., VI. ; Sehoul- 
er's History of the United States, Vol. II.; McMaster's History of the People of the 
United States, Vols. II., III., IV.; Winsor's Narrative and Critical History of the 
United States, Vol. VII. ; Irving's Life of Washington ; Rives's Life of Madison ; Ameri- 
can Statesmen Series, Madison, Jeiferson, Monroe, Adams; Madison Papers; Alex- 
ander Johnston's History and Constitution of the United States: Appleton's Encyclo- 
pedia ; Encyclopedia of American Biography ; Parton's Life of Andrew Jackson. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. Relate the massacre at Fort Mimins, Ala., 1813. 2. De- 
feat of the Creeks at Horseshoe Bend. 3. Tell of the battles of Chippewa and 
Lundy's Laue, 4. To what bay did the British next go ? 5. Relate the bum- 



276 



History of the United States. 



ing of Washington. 6. "W hen and where was the ' ' Star Spangled Banner " 
written ? 7. By whom ? 8. Tell of the Victory at Plattsburg. 9. What city 
in the South was now fortified ? 10. By whom? 11. Describe the battle of 
New Orleans. 13. What were its results l* 13. What was the Hartford Con- 
vention, and when did it take place? 14. Tell of Commodore Decatur's chas- 
tising of the Barbary States. 15. When was Louisiana admitted to the 
Union? IG. Indiana? 17. Which generals of this war were from the South ? 



CHAPTER LL 



MONROE'S ADMINISTRATION. 




Monroe's Election, 1817. — James Monroe, of Virginia, 
was elected the fifth President of the United States, with 
Daniel Tompkins of New York the 
Vice-President. Old President Adams 
was put out at this and said, " My son 
will never have a chance until the last 
Virginian is laid in the graveyard." 
John Quincy Adams of Massachusetts 
was Secretary of State, Crawford of 
Georgia Secretary of the Treasury, Cal- 
houn of South Carolina Secretary of 
War, Wirt of Virginia Attorney-Gen- 
eral, and Crowninshield of New York 
MONROE. Secretary of the Navy. Monroe was not 

considered a great man, but he proved to be a wise, judicious, 
industrious, and successful President. 

"Era of Good Feeling." — The old Federalist party had 
been destroyed and no new one had arisen to take its place, 
so that harmony and good-will prevailed, and the first few 
years of Monroe's administration were known as the " era 
of good feeling." Monroe seems to have taken Washington 
as his model in many ways, and he constantly sought advice 
from Jefferson and Madison and corresponded with them 
on public affairs. 

Pirates and Indians on the Southern Border, 1818. — Spain 
had never forgiven the cession of Louisiana to the United States 
and showed herself hostile and aggressive all along the south- 
ern border. Nests of pirates near the coasts of Florida and 
Texas had to be attacked and captured. The Seminole 



Monroe's Administration. 277 

Indians, a part of the Creek tribes which had moved into 
Florida, became very unfriendly at this time and committed 
outrages and murders in Georgia and Alabama. General 
Andrew Jackson was ordered to levy troops in Tennessee 
and the neighboring States and march against them. He 
raised 1,000 men, and with them and a brigade of friendly 
Indians, drove the Seminoles before him into the territory 
belonging to Spain, and pressed them until they hid in the 
swamps, and the war was over. Jackson was convinced 
that the Indians had been incited to their savage deeds by 
the Spaniards. He therefore seized the Spanish fort of St. 
Marks near Tallahassee and their post at Pensacola ; and 
he ordered General Gaines to march to the coast and cap- 
ture St. Augustine. All this was contrary to the orders 
from Washington, and as soon as the news reached there 
Gaines was forbidden to advance upon St. Augustine, and 
St. Marks and Pensacola were given back to the Spaniards ; 
by which acts of justice, Spain was prevented from going 
to war. 

Jackson's Popularity. — General Jackson was a passionate, 
sensitive man, and Mr. Monroe and Secretary Adams had 
to be very particular not to give him offence in undoing 
what he had done. But they could really praise him for 
the good he had accomplished in securing peace and protec- 
tion to the border, and he continued friendly to the admin- 
istration. He had become so popular by this time as the 
" Hero of New Orleans " and the " Savior of the South," 
that when he went north to defeat some charges brought 
against him, the people made almost as much of him as they 
had done of General Washington. 

Cession of Florida, 1819. — Further trouble on the south- 
ern frontier was averted by the cession of Florida to the 
United States in 1819. Mr. Jefferson had tried to purchase 
it when he bought Louisiana from France, but Spain had 
refused to sell. Now, however, she agreed to give the coun- 
try up, if the United States would abandon all claim to 
Texas and would pay to certain of her citizens 5,000,000 
dollars, which was claimed by them for depredations com- 
mitted by Spain upon them during a series of years. Florida 
was then made a territory of the United States, and General 
Andrew Jackson was appointed its first governor. 



278 History of the United States. 

Growth and Prosperity; Admission of Mississippi, 1817; 
Illinois, 1818; and Alabama, 1819. — The growth and pros- 
perity of the Union were wonderful. Immigration from 
Europe had begun, and the increase of population towards 
the south and in the northwest was very rapid. Louisiana 
and Indiana had become States during Mr. Madison's admin- 
istration. Mississippi was admitted to the Union in 1817, 
Illinois in 1818, and Alabama in 1819. To bind these dis- 
tant States closer together, many persons thought that the 
government should make great roads and canals wherever 
there were no large rivers to afford the communication which 
the increasing number of steamboats made so easy. Others 
thought that the general government had 
nothing to do with roads and canals, but 
that each State should regulate them within 
its own bounds. Henry Clay was the strong 
advocate of the former plan, and one great 
thoroughfare, the " National Road," was 
^^,^ made as far as Wheeling. Clay was also 
strongly in favor of protecting American 
manufactures by so high a tariff that foreign 
goods would be practically kept out of 
American markets. These two principles 
of "internal improvements" and "a protective tariff" 
were combined into what was known as the " American 
System," and gave rise to the formation of new political 
parties. 

Sectional Hostility, 1820. — The application of Missouri 
for admission as a State into the Union developed a sec- 
tional hostility between the States stronger than any pre- 
vious exhibition of it. From colonial times there had been 
differences of opinions and interests. New England and 
Massachusetts especially had attempted to dictate to their 
Southern neighbors, and jealousy of their prosperity and 
power had from time to time manifested itself. The pur- 
chase of Louisiana and the increase of Southern States and 
southern votes in Congress had called forth threats of dis- 
union and secession from New England. An outburst of 
ill-feeling had been kept in check by the remarkable way in 
which, up to this time, the States had come into the Union 
in pairs — one from the North, another from the South; Ver- 




HENRY CLAY. 



Mo7iroe's Administration. 279 

mont and Kentucky, Tennessee and Ohio, Louisiana and 
Indiana, Mississippi and Illinois. Alabama had come in 
from the South, and now, before a Northern new-comer was 
ready to balance her votes in Congress, Missouri presented 
her claim. From the time that the cotton gin had made 
negro labor so important in furnishing cotton for New Eng- 
land factories, all agitation on the question of slavery had 
practically ceased. Self-interest had silenced conscientious 
scruples, and New England ships had brought Africans to 
the Southern coasts, notwithstanding the abolition of the 
slave trade. 

Southern View of Slavery. — At the time of the Revolu- 
tion many southern people were opposed to the perpetua- 
tion of slavery, and would have gotten rid of it if they could 
have seen what to do with the negroes. France had made 
the experiment of setting them free in Hayti, and they had 
proved so degraded and idle and vicious that the Southern 
States naturally shrank from having such a population 
in their midst. A Colonization Society for settling them on 
the coast of Africa had been formed. This, however, never 
accomplished very much, and by the time of which we are 
now writing (1819) the greater number of the Southern 
slaveholders, who were an intelligent, refined, cultivated. 
God-fearing people, had come to be of the opinion that the 
holding of slaves was nowhere forbidden in the Bible. They 
knew that the laws of their individual States expressly 
sanctioned it, and that the Constitution of the United States 
had not interfered with it. They knew also that the negroes 
in bondage were the best clothed, best fed, best cared for, 
and happiest class of laborers in the world; and they could 
not see that their own sons and daughters, growing up 
under the surroundings of slavery, were less moral or less in- 
telligent than the boys and girls in the Northern States. 
They saw and felt that, like every other condition of life, 
slavery had its evils ; but they believed that these were less 
than the ills which would result from its sudden abolition, 
and they held above all things that they alone had the right 
to deal with the subject in their own borders, and that the 
non-slaveholding States had no business to control or coerce 
them into what was foreign to their opinions and their in- 
terests. 



280 History of the United States. 

Slavery Guaranteed by the Constitution. — Congress had 
declared in 1793 that it had no power to interfere with 
slavery. When Louisiana was taken into the United States, 
its French, Spanish, and other inhabitants were guaranteed 
all the rights belonging to other citizens of the States. 
Slavery existed throughout the Territory, and was recog- 
nized as one of the guaranteed rights, and when the people 
of Missouri applied to become a State, they had no idea that 
there would be any difficulty about it. 

Question of Missouri. — But when the proposition for ad- 
mission into the Union was made, a violent opposition arose. 
The northern limit of Missouri was north of the Ohio 
River, which was the boundary between the free and slave 
States east of the Mississippi. But its southern limit was 
the latitude of 36° 30' where the new Territory of Arkansas 
began. This brought it on a line with Virginia and Ken- 
tucky, and there were the same inducements for employing 
negro labor as in those States. But now it was urged by the 
Northern representatives that Missouri should not be admitted 
unless slavery was done away with, and furthermore, that 
in none of the country west of the Mississippi should it 
ever be allowed. This was clearly a violation of the rights 
of the people of Louisiana, an overstepping of the power 
which Congress had hitherto claimed, and a contradiction 
of the Constitution. Some of the Northern statesmen were 
conscious of this and opposed a restriction so contrary to 
justice. But Abolition Societies were formed in the North 
which urged the congressmen from their sections to set 
aside the rights of the South regardless of law and justice. 

Missouri and Maine, 1820. — No decision of the question 
was reached during this Congress. When that body assem- 
bled again, Missouri applied anew to come into the Union 
and the opposition burst forth afresh. But by this time 
Maine had been separated from Massachusetts and applied 
to be admitted as a State. This restored the balance of new 
States, and the Senate voted that Missouri and Maine should 
be admitted together, the first with slavery, the second 
without. To this the House refused to agree, and voted to 
admit Maine and keep out Missouri unless slavery was pro- 
hibited. The Senate, wiser, juster, and freer from sectional 
jealousy, insisted upon the equal rights of the two new 



Monroe^s Administration. 281 

States to come in as their citizens desired without conditions. 
So fierce was the contention that a peaceable settlement of 
the question seemed hopeless. 

Missouri Compromise ; Admission of Maine, 1820, and 
Missouri, 1821. — At the last moment the "Missouri Compro- 
mise " was agreed to, which permitted that State to come in 
wath slavery, but declared that in no territory north of its 
southern boundary, 36° 30', should it ever be allowed to 
hold slaves. Maine was at once admitted as a State, but 
another difficulty was raised to keep out Missouri. An arti- 
cle in her Constitution prohibited free negroes from settling 
within her borders. Some of the Northern States declared 
that this was contrary to the Constitution as they had negro 
citizens who by this clause were forbidden to exercise their 
right to go where they chose. It was not until the next 
year, 1821, that Missouri was admitted into the Union, after 
she amended her Constitution so as to make it declare that 
nothing in it was intended to limit or prevent the rights of 
any citizens of the United States. I have told you the story 
of the Missouri Compromise at some length, because it shows 
how the two parts of the Republic felt towards each other, 
and because it was believed that it had finally settled the 
question of slavery and that there would be only peace and 
good-will between the sections from that time on. 

AUTHORITIES.— Hildreth's History of the United States, Vol. VI ; Schouler's His- 
tory of the United States, Vol. III. ; McMaster's History of tlie American People, Vol. 
IV.; Win?or"s Narrative and Critical History of the United States, Vol. VII.; 
Monroe, Clay, Calhoun, and Webster, American Statesmen Series; Benton's Thirty 
Years in the Senate; Annals of Congress; Letters and Times of the Tylers; Parton's 
Andrew Jackson; Colton's Henry Clay; Wilson's Division and Reunion; Alexander 
Johnston's History and Constitution of the United States; Appleton's Encyclopedia; 
Encyclopedia of American Biography. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. Who was elected President in 1817? 3. What did John 
Adams say ? 3. What title was given to this administration ? 4. Tell of the 
troubles on the southern border ; who quieted them ? 5. What titles were 
given to General Jackson ? 6. Tell of the cession of Florida. 7. Who was 
its first governor':' 8. Describe the growth and prosperity of the country. 
9. When was Mississippi admitted to the Union ? 10. Illinois? 11. Alabama? 
12. What ill-feeling now burst forth? 13. What threat did New England 
make? 14. Give the southern view of slavery? 15. Was it guaranteed by 
the Constitution ? 16. How did the question of Missouri affect it ? 17. What 
State next applied for admission ? 18. What is the " Missouri Compromise " ? 
19. When was Maine admitted? 20. Missouri? 21. AVhy should you know 
of the Missouri Compromise ? 22. Do you know where all the places are ? 



CHAPTER LII. 

MONROE'S ADMINISTRATION, CONTINUED— JOHN QUINGT 
ADAMS'S ADMINISTRATION. 

Monroe Doctrine. — Monroe was elected President for a 
second term and inaugurated on Monday the 5th of March, 
1821. Spain had discovered and colonized Mexico and 
South America and had owned and governed them for hun- 
dreds of years. Now the success with which the United 
States had asserted and maintained their independence, 
stimulated Mexico and South America to claim the right to 
govern themselves. Spain objected to this. The people of 
the United States felt much sympathy with their southern 
neighbors and Henry Clay was very urgent that the revolted 
provinces should be recognized as independent nations. 
This was done by Congress and the President in 1822 ; and 
in the next year, Mr. Monroe in his message laid down the 
rules which have been known as the " Monroe Doctrine," 
that America, having made herself free and independent, 
was not hereafter to be governed by any European power 
and that any attempt to extend the system of monarchy to 
the Western Continents would be regarded by the United 
States as dangerous to their own peace and safety. 

Lake and Ocean Steamers. — During this period the coun- 
try was increasing in population and prosperity. Long 
trains of emigrants were to be seen driving their lumbering 
wagons across the mountains and prairies 
to new homes in the West. Steamboats 
were on all the rivers and the Walk-in- 
the- Water had been launched on Lake 
Erie in 1818. The next year the first ocean 
steamer, the Savannah, sailed from Georgia 
to England and as far as St. Petersburg. 
Mr. Monroe did not believe that under the 

settler's wagons. /-, • . 1 

Constitution the general government had 
the right to build roads and other internal improvements, 
and he vetoed a bill for that purpose. 

La Fayette's Visit, 1824.— In this year the Marquis de La 
Fayette came once more to America, in a government ves- 

[283] 




Monroe's Administration. 283 

sel, as the guest of the United States. The people of the 
entire land welcomed him with great affection and respect. 
He showed the same good-will towards them, made a tour 
through each one of the twenty-four States, visited the tomb 
of his beloved Washington, and was greatly pleased with 
the growth and prosperity of the country. The Government 
presented him $200,000 in money and a large tract of land 
in Florida, and sent him home after more than a year in the 
ship Brandyivine. 

Election of John Quincy Adams, 1825. — When the electoral 
votes for President were counted in the spring of 1825 there 
were found to be four candidates, Wil- 
liam H. Crawford, John Quincy Adams, 
General Andrew Jackson, and Henry 
Clay. Of these General Jackson had 
the largest and Clay the smallest num- 
ber of votes, but none of them liad a 
sufficient majority to elect him. The 
House of Representatives had therefore S 
to choose among Crawford, Adams, and 
Jackson; and although Adams had 
fewer votes than either of the others, John quinct adams. 
Clay's friends combined with his and made him President. 
Calhoun was the Vice-President, Clay was made Secretary 
of State. Adams was not the choice of the people, and 
became more and more unpopular. 

Erie Canal, 1825. — During this year the first boats passed 
through the Erie canal from the Hudson to Lake Erie, and 
the event was celebrated throughout New York by the firing 
of cannon, the ringing of bells, and a general rejoicing. 
This canal proved a great meaiis of prosperity and wealth 
to the State, and helped to build up the Northwest by afford- 
ing easy and cheap communication with the lakes. Over 
its waters goods could be carried for $10 which cost $100 to 
carry over land. La Fayette made part of his journey 
through New York in a barge drawn along the canal by 
four white horses. 

Removal of the Cherokees, 1826. — A serious trouble arose 
at this time between the State of Georgia and the general 
government. A treaty had been made between the LTnited 
States and the Creek Indians, by which large tracts of land 




284 History of the United States. 

Avithin the State of Georgia had been given up by the 
Indians. The Senate ratified this treaty, but many of the 
Indians were enraged at it, and the President then declared 
the treaty of no force and proceeded to make a new one. 
Governor Troup of Georgia insisted that the first treaty 
was the valid one, and he had tlie land, ceded to the State 
by it, surveyed and divided into sections, and intimated that 
he would resist any Federal interference. In the end the 
old treaty prevailed. The Indians yielded and were moved 
west to a new home across the Mississippi. To every war- 
rior who would go within two years there were provided a 
rifle, a butcher knife, a blanket, a brass kettle, a beaver 
trap, food for the journey, and transportation. You may 
think it was cruel to remove the Indians to new far-off" lands. 
But they had never learned civilization from the white men. 
Idleness, drunkenness, and other vices constantly increased 
among them. They did not really own the land, did nothing 
to improve it, and were a perpetual torment and menace to 
the whites, who punished their off"ences with little mercy. 
To remove them seemed therefore the kindest and best 
policy for both races. 

Death of Jefferson and Adams, 1826.— The 4th of July 
of this year was the jubilee or fiftieth anniversary of 
American Independence. It was even more remarkable 
for the death of two ex-Presidents, Thomas Jefferson and 
John Adams. Jefferson passed away about noon, aged 
eighty-three ; and Adams a few hours later, aged ninety- 
one. Monroe, another ex-President, also died on July 4th 
five years afterwards, in 1831. 

"Bill of Abominations." — John Quincy Adams was an 
upholder of the American system. A high tariff bill, passed 
and approved by the President, was so objectionable to the 
men who thought the Constitution gave power only to im- 
pose duties for revenue, that it was called the '•' bill of abomi- 
nations." 



AUTHORITIES.— Hildreth's History of the United States, Vol. VI.: Schouler's His- 
tory of the United states, Vol. III.; McMaster's History of the American People, Vol. 
IV.; Winsor's Narrative and Critical History of the United States, Vol. VII. ; Ameri- 
can Statesmen Series. Monroe, Callioun, Clay, and Webster; Benton's Thirty Years in 
the Senate; Annals of Congress ; Letters and Times of the Tylers; Parton's Andrew 
Jackson ; Colton's Henry Clay ; Wilson's Division and Reunion ; Alexander Johnston's 
History and Constitution of the United.States ; Appleton's Encyclopedia , Encyclopedia 
of American Biography. 



Jackson's Administration. 



285 



QUESTIONS.— 1. What is the " Monroe Doctrine"? 2. What were the 
first lake and ocean steamers ? 3. Tell of La Fayette's visit to America in 
1834-'25. 4. Who was elected President in 1835 ? 5. What great canal was 
opened in 1835 ? 6. Toll of the trouble between Georgia and the general gov- 
ernment. 7. Why were the Cherokees removed to the west ? 8. When did 
the semi-centennial of Independence occur ? 9. What two distinguished men 
died on that day ? 10. What other ex- President died on the fourth of July ? 
11. AVhatwasthe "Bill of Abominations"? 13. Be sure you know where 
the places are. 



CHAPTER LIII. 



JACKSON'S ADMINISTRATION. 




Election of Jackson, 1828. — The seventh President was 
elected by a very large majority and Calhoun of South 
Carolina again chosen Vice-President. General Jackson 
had recently lost his wife whom he loved 
tenderly, and out of respect to her memory, 
the ceremony of the inauguration on March 
4, 1829, at the newly completed Capitol 
was a simple affair. General Jackson was 
a sincere Democrat. He believed in " the 
People " and was proud of being their 
choice. He also believed that in uphold- 
ing the principles and furthering the ends 
of his party, he was doing the best thing 
for the nation. While honest and fearless, i^^^-^^^^^. 

he was arbitrary and disliked all who opposed his will and 
had few scruples in exercising the power of his position. 
His Cabinet was composed of Van Buren of New York, 
Secretary of State ; Ingham of Pennsylvania, Secretary of 
the Treasury ; Eaton of Tennessee, Secretary of War ; 
Branch of North Carolina, Secretary of the Navy ; Berrien 
of Georgia, Attorney-General ; and Barry of Kentucky, 
Postmaster-General, the first admitted into the Cabinet. 
General Eaton was the only personal friend of the President 
among them. 

Party Conventions, 1829. — It had become a principle in 
New York politics that '' to the victors belong the spoils," 
and the administration carried out the maxim ruthlessly. 



286 



History of the United States. 



Every man in office who had opposed General Jackson or 
the Democratic party was turned out as speedily as possible, 
and his place given to some politician or editor or other 
citizen who had worked or voted for the new administration. 
Unfortunately the same policy prevailed at Washington for 
many succeeding years. Under its influence party "Con- 
ventions " sprung up and political machinery became very 
strong and complete. When the Senate reassembled in 
December, it showed its disapproval of the President's 
course by refusing to confirm a number of his nominations. 
Jackson and the " American System." — Jackson was 
opposed to carrying on internal improvements by the gov- 
ernment and protecting American industries by high duties 
on foreign goods. He therefore vetoed bills for internal 
improvements and recommended that the tariff, obnoxious 
to the agricultural States of the South, should be at once 
diminished. 

Nullification Debate, 1830. — The New England States had 
on different occasions threatened to leave the Union if 

measures obnoxious to them 
were persisted in by the gov- 
ernment. South Carolina 
now took something of the 
same stand, though on rather 
different ground. Mr. Cal- 
houn, her greatest states- 
man, being Vice-President, 
,-^^^ could neither present nor 
^^ ^ advocate the cause of his 
State. But the views held 
by him were poM'erfuUy ad- 
vocated in the Senate by 
Robert Y. Hayne, who de- 
clared that if at any time 
the Constitution should be 
violated by any law of Con- 
gress, each State had the 
right to prevent the execution of such a law within her own 
limits. This question of " Nullification " threatened to tear 
the Union asunder. The great orators of the time, the most 
eloquent since the days of 1776, Calhoun, Clay, Webster, 




Jackson's Administration. 



287 



Hayne, and others, argued and debated long and ably in the 
Senate; and still the antagonism to the tariff and the deter- 
mination of South Carolina to stand up for her rights grew 
stronger and stronger. The speeches of Mr. Hayne in 
defence of the doctrine of State Rights as reserved under 
the Constitution, and of Daniel Webster, who denied that 
such independent rights were possible, are among the greatest 
efforts of human oratory. As yet Calhoun could not meet 
the Massachusetts orator, but not long after, as a senator, he 
vindicated the opinions of his party in an argument so able, 
clear, and logical, that none could question his pure patriot- 
ism nor hit intellectual force. 

Troubles in the Cabinet, 1831. — Personal hostility grew 
up between the President and the Vice- 
President and Cabinet. The feeling grew 
so strong that in 1831 both the Vice-Presi- 
dent and Cabinet resigned. Before a great 
while Calhoun was sent to the Senate from 
South Carolina and Henry Clay from Ken- 
tucky. Ex-President John Quincy Adams *f 
also was elected a Representative from 
Massachusetts, and held the position until 
his death. Jackson was again elected 
President in 1832 by an overwhelming ma- 
jority, and Martin Van Buren Vice-President. The second 
inauguration took place on March 4, 1833. 

Ordinance of Nullification Passed, 1832. — The tariff of 
this year proving even more oppressive than that of 1828, 
the people of South Carolina, influenced by Mr. Calhoun 
and his fellow-statesmen, elected members who met in con- 
vention and proceeded to pass in November what was known 
as the " Nullification Ordinance." This Ordinance declared 
that the tariff acts of 1828 and 1832 were unconstitutional; 
that they were "null and void" within the State; that no 
one in the State should endeavor to enforce them ; and that 
if the United States Government should send land or naval 
forces to compel the collection of revenue, or should do any- 
thing to coerce the State to submission, she would consider 
her political connection with the United States thereby sev- 
ered, and would set up a separate government for herself. 
This was a bold declaration, and strange to say, Mr. Cal- 




WEBSTEE. 



288 History of the United States. 

houn seemed to think it a peaceable measure and one likely 
to preserve the Union. 

Tariff Compromise. — General Jackson was an earnest 
believer in the rights of the States under the Constitution 
and was opposed to the tariff. But he was still more 
opposed to any weakening of his power and infringement 
of his prerogative. Had he been governor of South Caro- 
lina, he would doubtless have done his utmost to prevent 
the collecting of the obnoxious duties. But being the 
President he exerted the power of that office to the utmost. 
He issued a Proclamation December 10th against the Nulli- 
fiers, taking strong ground against their construction of the 
Constitution, and was anxious to proceed to vigorous 
measures against them. Congress supported him by a 
"Force Bill" giving him authority to use the army and 
navy to enforce the tariff in South Carolina, and he pre- 
pared to act upon it, but fortunately for the peace of the 
country better counsels prevailed. By the influence of 
Henry Clay, the tariff was reduced, South Carolina with- 
drew her extreme opposition, and there was no further rea- 
son for the President to send an armed force against her. 

Jackson and the United States Bank. — Jackson in his 
message of 1832 recommended that the government should 
withdraw its support from the Bank. Congress differed 

with him and voted to con- 



tinue their relations with it. 
But the President would brook 
opposition from Congress no 
better than from South Caro- 
lina, and directed all money 
belonging to the United States 
to be taken from the Bank and 
distributed amongotherbanks ; 
and, although the Senate and 
the political leaders of the country, Clay, Calhoun, Webster, 
and Adams, all took sides against him, he carried his point 
and was sustained by the people at large. 




BIETHPLACE OF WEBSTER. 



AUTHORITIES.— Hildreth's History of the United States, Vol. VI. ; Schouler's His- 
tory of the United States, Vol. III. ; McMaster's History of the American People. Vol. 
IV. ; Winaor's Narrative and Critical History of the United States, Vol. VII. ; American 
Statesmen Series, Monroe, Calhoun Clay, and Webster; Benton's Thirty Years in the 
Senate ; Annals of Congress ; Letters arid Times of the Tylers ; Parton's Andrew Jack- 



Jackson's Administration. 289 

son; Colton's Henry Clay; Wilson's Division and Reunion; Alexander Johnston's 
History and Constitution of the United States ; Appleton's Encyclopedia ; Encyclopedia 
of American Biography. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. Who was elected President in 1828? 2. Describe his 
character. 3. What principle now began to control politics? 4. Was Jack- 
son a friend to the "American System"? 5. What trouble was now arising 
in South Carolina ? 6. Who was the great advocate of Nullification ? 7. What 
is the doctrine of Nullification? 8. Who was its great opposer? 9. Why- 
did the Cabinet resign? 10. What stand did South Carolina take in 1832? 
11. What was Jackson's action? 12. How was war prevented? 13. Who 
was the author of the Tariff Compromise ? 14. How did Jackson treat the 
United States Bank ? 



CHAPTER LIV. 

JACKSON'S ADMINISTRATION, CONTINUED. 

Continued Agitation of the Slavery Question. — After the 
Missouri Compromise the question of slavery in the differ- 
ent States was thought to be settled forever. But the Abo- 
lition Societies at the North, and especially the Quakers, 
continued the agitation, and now began to send petitions to 
Congress to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia. 
This District had been given to the Government by Virginia 
and Maryland. The people of both those States were slave- 
holders and had the right to continue so guaranteed to them 
under the Constitution. As Washington was wholly in 
Maryland, that portion of the District south of the Potomac 
was after a while given back to Virginia. Abolition news- 
papers and documents were published in the Northern 
States, filled with false representations of the wretched con- 
dition of the slaves and accounts of the cruelty of their 
masters. Most prominent among these papers was "The 
Liberator," published by William Lloyd Garrison, which 
demanded " immediate emancipation." Garrison was a 
fearless fanatic. He recognized the fact that the Constitu- 
tion of the United States nowhere opposed slavery, and 
characterized it as an " agreement with death and a covenant 
with hell." Not many people, even in the North, were 
ready as yet to go so far as this, but by continued repeti- 
tion of the same ideas the Abolitionists gradually gained 
adherents. 
19 



290 History of the United States. 

Efforts for Peace. — That desperate trouble must grow out 
of this agitation of the slavery question, every wise man 
foresaw. But there were wide differences of opinion as to 
the best way of preventing it. Mr. Calhoun thought that 
Congress should refuse to receive any petitions affecting the 
rights of the Southern slave owners. The President in his 
message of 1835 was very outspoken against the Abolition 
Societies, and recommended that Congress should forbid the 
United States mails to carry documents calculated to arouse 
the evil passions of the slaves and produce insurrection 
among them. The Southern congressmen with Mr. Cal- 
houn at their head, and many of the Northern members, 
thought this would be an infringement of the rights of 
the States which alone ought to control such questions, and 
the bill was never passed. 

Nat Turner's Insurrection, 1831. — But the fact that insur- 
rections of the negroes had occurred — one especially in Vir- 
ginia, led by Nat Turner, in which about sixty people had been 
murdered— made the representatives of the South earnest 
to protect their section from the attacks of the Abolitionists. 
In 1836 Mr. Calhoun' persuaded the House of Representa- 
tives to pass what was called " the Gag Law," forbidding 
the reception of any petition concerning the abolition of 
slaves. The Senate, more cool and conservative, declined 
to pass the law. They thought the petitions should be 
received and laid on the table. 

Increase of Petitions. — The " Gag Law " was a serious 
mistake. Just as the continual intermeddling of the North 
with their domestic institutions provoked the Southern 
States to a more determined maintenance of slavery as one 
of their rights, so the attempt to prevent the acceptance of 
petitions by Congress only increased their number and bit- 
terness. Ex-President Adams became identified with the 
Abolition agitators by the persistence with which he presented 
to the House requests that slavery should be done away at 
once in the District of Columbia, in the Southern States, in 
the territories, anywhere and everywhere. The petitioners 
and their requests were at first sneered at by most of the North- 
ern people and ignored or ridiculed in the South. But their 
continued efforts finally succeeded although sorrow and blood- 
shed were necessary to the accomplishment of their purpose. 



Jackson* 8 Administration. 291 

Opening of Railroads, 1830. — To carry on the political his- 
tory of Jackson's administration continuously, we have omit- 
ted many matters of importance which must be given here. 
The fact which perhaps did most to influence the growth and 
prosperity of the country was the opening of railroads and 
the introduction of steam transportation on land. At first 
the rail-cars were drawn by horses, but in 1830 a locomotive 
was used on a short road running out of Charleston, South 
Carolina. Then the Baltimore and Ohio road and other 
northern roads adopted steam engines, and from that time 
they have increased until they stretch through all parts of 
the continent. 

Black Hawk War, 1832. — In 1832 the anxiety occasioned 
in the States by the slavery agitation was increased by an 
Indian war in the Northwest and by the breaking out of the 
Asiatic cholera. The Winnebagoes and Sacs and Foxes in 
Illinois had become so cruel and oppres- 
sive to the white settlers near them that 
General Scott was sent to repress them. 
Their leader Black Hawk was a bold, 
crafty warrior, but at last they were 
overcome at the battle of Bad Axe in 
Illinois, July 25th. Black Hawk was 
captured and his forces obliged to go 
back west of the Mississippi. To mus- 
ter into the United States troops the 
volunteer companies offering their ser- 
vices for this war, General Scott sent to ^^^^^ "^^''^■ 
Dixon, Illinois, two young lieutenants of the regular army 
to administer the oath of allegiance. The two lieutenants 
were Jefferson Davis and Robert Anderson. Lieutenant 
Davis swore into service Abraham Lincoln, the tall awkward 
captain of an Illinois company. 

Cholera and Other Events, 1832-1836.— Cholera had first 
appeared in Montreal and Quebec a few weeks before this. 
It spread with alarming rapidity, and destroyed numbers of 
General Scott's men as they marched west. Thousands of 
Americans died during the summer and fall. In Novem- 
ber, 1833, occurred the curious [)henomenon known as 
"the falling stars," when the vast quantities of meteors 
flashing through the sky made it appear as if the heavens 




292 History of the United States. 

were raining stars. The early winter of 1835 was the coldest 
ever known in the country. The mercury froze in New York. 
The Chesapeake Bay was frozen from its head to the ocean, 
and the orange and other fruit trees were killed in Florida. 
The year ] 835 was full of incidents. On the 30th of January 
an attempt was made to assassinate the President just as he 
was passing from the rotunda of the Capitol at Washington 
to his carriage. The would-be murderer proved to be a 
crazy man who was afterwards locked up for life in an 
asylum. The venerable Chief Justice Marshall died in the 
summer, and in June of the next year, 1836, Ex-President 
Madison passed away at the age of eighty-five. A great con- 
flagration which broke out in New York in December, 1835, 
destroyed in a few days $17,000,000 worth of property. 

Florida War, 1835. — A second Seminole war broke out late 
in 1835. Osceola their chief uttered threats of vengeance for 
wrongs he had received and was kept 
in irons for some days. In a rage he 
withdrew into the Everglades and 
gathered a band of followers devoted 
to vengeance. On December 28th a 
force of 110 United States soldiers 
under Major Dade were suddenly sur- 
rounded and all killed except one. 
The war raged after this for two years 
with varying success. In 1837 Osceola 
went with a flag of truce to hold a 
conference with General Jessup. Notwithstanding the pro- 
tection of the flag, Jessup had him seized and sent a pris- 
oner to Fort Moultrie at Charleston where he languished 
and died. The war was not ended until a year later, 
when Colonel Zachary Taylor defeated the Seminoles 
severely and they ultimately removed to the western Reser- 
vation. 

Foreign Relations. — The foreign relations of Jackson's 
administration were very successful. England was friendly 
during the whole eight years, and through her mediation a 
serious difficulty with France was averted. The last mes- 
sage of the President announced that the national debt had 
been entirely discharged and that there was a surplus of 
$37,000,000 in the Treasury. 




Jackson's Administration. 



293 




THE HERMITAGE, HOME OF ANDREW JACKSON. 



Jackson's Farewell. — President Jackson issued a Farewell 
Address to the people of the country full of patriotism and 
devotion to constitutional 
liberty. He had changed 
his views and his policy 
more than once since he 
entered public life and 
had given offence to some 
of his best friends, but 
even those most opposed 
to him were forced to 
acknowledge that he was 
as sincere and honest in his intentions and firm and able in 
executing them as any other man of his time. He died on 
June 8, 1845. 

Arkansas Admitted to the Union, 1836 ; Michigan, 1837. — 
The State of Arkansas was admitted into the Union late in 
1836, and Michigan in January, 1837. Petitions from the 
Abolition Societies prayed Congress not to receive Arkansas 
as a slave-holding State, but no attention was paid to them. 

AUTHORITIES. — Hildreth's History of the United States. Vol. VI.; Schouler's His- 
tory of tlie United States, Vol. III.; McMaster's History of the American People, Vol. 
IV.; Winsor"s Narrative and Critical History of the United States, Vol. VII.; Ameri- 
can Statesmen Series, Monroe, Calhoun, Clay, and Webster; Benton's Tliirty Years in the 
Senate; Annals of Congress; Letters and Times of the Tylers; Parton's Andrew 
Jackson; Colton's Henry Clay; Wilson's Division and Reunion ; Alexander Johnston's 
History and Constitution of the United States; Appleton's Encyclopedia; Encyclo- 
pedia of American Biography. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. Tell about the agitation of the slavery question. 
2. What efforts were made to quiet it ? 'S. Were they successful ? 4. What 
insurrection occurred in 1831 ? 5. AYhat law was passed? 6. Did it stop the 
abolition petitions ? 7. AVhere was the first railroad in America ? 8. Relate 
the Black Hawk War. 9. What three distinguished men took part in it? 
10. What dreadful disease broke out in 1833? 11. Tell of some other remarkable 
events in 1832-1836. 12. Describe the Florida War. 13. Who was the Semi- 
nole chief? 14. Tell of the foreign relations of the United States; of the 
national debt. 15. Tell of Jackson's Farewell Address, and his death. 
16. When was Arkansas admitted to the Union ? 17. Michigan? 



CHAPTER LV. 



VAN BUREJSf'S ADMINISTRATION. 




Van Buren's Election, 1836. — The popularity of General 
Jackson insured the election of his friend and favorite, Mar- 
tin Van Buren of New York, in 1836. Gen- 
eral Jackson accompanied his successor to 
the Capitol on March 4, 1837, in a phae- 
ton made of some of the timbers of the 
old frigate Constitution. Richard M. 
Johnson of Kentucky was elected Vice- 
President by the Senate. The Cabinet of 
the preceding administration was con- 
tinued in office. In his inaugural address 
Mr. Van Buren declared himself earnestly 
opposed to any attempts to abolish or 
interfere with slavery in the District of Columbia or else- 
where, and said that in his direction of public affairs he 
intended to "follow in the steps of his illustrious predeces- 
sor." 

Financial Crash of 1837. — You have read that General 
Jackson disliked the United States Bank and that the gov- 
ernment money was withdrawn from it and distributed 
among other banks in the different States. Finding them- 
selves so well supplied with money, these banks began to 
lend it out freely, and a spirit of rash speculation took pos- 
session of the country. New banks went into operation 
everywhere with little capital to sustain them, and in the 
haste to be rich every one seemed to spend more than he 
had. Shortly after the incoming of the new President, a 
financial storm swept over the country. From Boston to 
New Orleans failure after failure was announced, and 
amounted to hundreds of millions of dollars. Many of the 
banks failed and others suspended specie payment. In the 
summer the President was obliged to call an extra session of 
Congress to see how the Treasury, which in 1836 had a sur- 
plus of $37,000,000, could be enabled to pay the necessary 
expenses' of the government. Congress met and authorized 

[294] 



Van Buren's Administration. 295 

the issue of $10,000,000 in treasury notes to meet the emer- 
gency. 

United States Treasury. — Mr. Van Buren was urgent that 
the Government should take charge of all public money and 
pay it out through its officers, without having any depend- 
ence on banks. Some years later this plan was in the main 
carried out and the United States Treasury established as 
we have it now. 

Canadian Insurrection, 1837. — An insurrection of some 
Canadians who wished to throw off English authority, 
excited so much sympath}^ along the border that the Presi- 
dent issued a proclamation ordering all citizens of the 
United States to observe strict neutrality. He at the same 
time sent an armed force under General Scott to protect the 
northern borders of the United States and to restrain the 
people from taking active part with the Canadians. 

State Rights Resolutions Passed, 1838. — Abolition peti- 
tions continued to pour into Congress, and Mr. Adams to 
present them. In January of 1838 Mr. Calhoun offered in 
the Senate six resolutions declaring that "The States in 
adopting the Constitution acted severally as free, indepen- 
dent, and sovereign States ; that they retained the exclu- 
sive and sole right over their own domestic institutions and 
police ; that it is the solemn duty of the government as far 
as it can to resist all attempts by one portion of the Union 
to use it as an instrument to attack, weaken, or destroy the 
domestic institutions of another portion ; that domestic 
slavery was one of these institutions in the Southern and 
Western States, inherited from their ancestors, and recog- 
nized by the Constitution as an important element in appor- 
tioning power among the States, and that no change of 
opinion or feeling could justify attacks upon it which were 
certainly a breach of faith and a violation of the most solemn 
obligations ; that the abolishing of slavery in the District of 
Columbia would be a violation of faith with Virginia and 
Maryland and would have a tendency to disturb and en- 
danger the Union ; and that for Congress to abolish slavery 
in a territory would also be a breach of faith with the people 
who were entitled to decide the question for themselves, w^hen- 
ever such territory should become a State." These reso- 
lutions were adopted by a very large majority in the Senate. 



296 History of the United States. 

Abberton's Resolutions Passed. — When Congress met 
again in December, the Abolitionists in the House of Rep- 
resentatives renewed their attacks upon the South and its 
institutions in such violent and abusive terms that at one 
time all the Southern members were about to retire from 
the House. With a desire to lay the subject to rest, as had 
apparently been done in the Senate, Mr. Abberton of New 
Hampshire introduced resolutions somewhat similar to 
those of Mr. Calhoun. The first, which declared that under 
the Constitution Congress had nothing to do with slavery in 
the States, passed with only six adverse votes. The other 
resolutions asserted that the petitions for the abolition of 
slavery in the District of Columbia and in the territories 
were part of a plan to affect the institution of slavery and 
indirectly to destroy it in the Southern States ; that all at- 
tempts on the part of Congress to abolish slavery in the Dis- 
trict or the territories were in violation of the Constitution ; 
and that every petition or paper on the subject should when 
presented in the House be at once laid on the table. These 
resolutions were passed by a two-thirds majority, and it was 
fondly hoped that by them the slavery agitation was finally 
settled. 

Steamships, 1838. — During this year steamships began 
to ply regularly between England and America. An article 
by the distinguished philosopher, Dr. Lardner, declaring 
that it was impossible to use steamships as a regular mode of 
transportation across the Atlantic, was brought to America 
in one of the very ships which proved it to be incorrect. 

Wilkes's Expedition, 1838. — An exploring expedition sent 
out in this year under Captain Charles Wilkes did much to 
advance the natural sciences. There were three large and 
three small vessels, having on them accomplished philoso- 
phers in various branches of science During an absence 
of nearly four years this expedition discovered and sailed 
along the Antarctic Continent, cruised in unexplored parts 
of the ocean, visited many islands unknown to the civilized 
world, and brought back many valuable specimens of 
plants, seeds, roots, animals, and even some savages never 
before seen in America. 

Smithsonian Institute. — At this same time the Smithson- 
ian Institute at Washington was established with the 



Van Buren's Administration. 297 

bequest of $575,169 left to the'United States in trust by 
James Smithson of London, to be used " for the general 
diffusion of knowledge among men." Most of the speci- 
mens and curiosities collected by the Wilkes Expedition 
were placed in this Institute, where many of them may still 
be seen. 

Election of Harrison, 1840. — The Democratic Convention 
met in Baltimore in May of this year and renominated Van 
Buren for a second term of the Presidency. But the people 
of the country associated the wide-spread money troubles 
with his administration, and he was charged with extrava- 
gance while the country was suffering from want of money. 
Special stress was laid on the fact that "gold spoons" were 
used in the White House, while the people were in need of 
food. The Whigs chose as their candidate General William 
Henry Harrison, who had won the battle of Tippecanoe 
against Tecuraseh and had afterwards distinguished himself 
as a brave and skilled soldier in Canada in the war of 1812. 
John Tyler of Virginia was nominated for the Vice-Presi- 
dent. The war-cry of the Whigs was "Tippecanoe" — the 
pet name for General Harrison — " Tippecanoe and Tyler 
too." Their candidate's simple mode of life was illustrated 
by his having lived in a "log cabin " and drinking "hard 
cider" as his favorite beverage, and was brought into sharp 
contrast with the " gold spoons " and other luxurious expen- 
ditures of Mr. Van Buren. The campaign was good- 
humored but most active. Log cabins and cider barrels 
were seen everywhere, as buttons on women's dresses, as 
scarf pins and cane heads for men; they were everywhere 
popular and pointed to the result of the election which 
proved to be two hundred and thirty-four votes for Harri- 
son and Tyler, while Van Buren received only sixty. 

Death of Harrison, 1841. — General Harrison was sixty- 
eight years old when he was inaugurated on March 4, 1841, 
but he seemed strong and vigorous. He rode down Penn- 
sylvania Avenue on a white horse, in the midst of a cold, 
driving sleet and rain, took the oath of office in the presence 
of sixty thousand people, and read his inaugural adddress 
in a clear distinct voice. On the 17th of the month he sum- 
moned Congress to meet in extra session on the last day of 
May, but he did not live to see it assemble. The exposure 



298 



History of the United States. 



and fatigue of the inauguTation ceremonies had been too 
much for his strength. He became ill with pneumonia and 
died on the 4th of April, just one month after being made 
President. 

AUTHORITIES.— Hildreth's History of the United States, Vol. VI. ; Schouler's His- 
tory of the United States, Vol. III. ; McMaster's History of the American People, 
Vol. IV.; Winsor's Narrative and Critical History of the United States, Vol. VII.; 
American Statesmen Series, Monroe, Clay, Calhoun, and Webster; Benton's Thirty 
Years in the Senate; Annals of Congress; Letters and Times of the Tylers; Parton's 
Andrew Jackson ; Colton's Henry Clay; Wilson's Division and Reunion; Alexander 
Johnston's History and Constitution of the United States; Appleton's Encyclopedia; 
Encyclopedia of American Biography. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. Who was elected President in 1836? 2. Wliat caused 
the financial crash of 1837? 3. What was the plan for the United States 
Treasury? 4. What excitement arose on the northern border? 5. Tell of 
the State Rights resolutions of Calhoun. 6. Were they passed? 7. What 
were the resolutions of Abberton? 8. Were they passed? 9. Tell of Dr. 
Lardner's opinion of steamboats. 10. Describe the expedition of Wilkes. 
11. The foundation of the Smithsonian Institute. 13. Tell of the nomination 
of William Henry Harrison. 13. His election. 14. His inauguration and 
death. 



CHAPTER LVI. 

TYLERS ADMINISTRATION. 



Tyler Becomes President, 1841. — Vice-President Tyler 
was absent from Washington when President Harrison died, 
but he returned to the city at once, took the oath of office 
and became the tenth President of the 
United States. He issued an inaugural 
address and requested Harrison's Cabinet 
to continue in office. The Whig party, 
formed in 1834, which had elected Harri- 
son and Tyler was composed of various 
elements which had been brought to- 
gether by their common opposition to 
General Jackson and his arbitrary mea- 
sures. Mr. Tyler was a strong State Rights 
man and was also opposed to a National 
TYLER. Bank which he considered unconstitu- 

tional. The Whigs had adopted no platform in the canvass, 
and Mr. Tyler had been nominated as the most available 
southern man for the position. 




Tyler's Administration. 299 

Mr. Tyler's Vetoes. — The extra session of Congress sum- 
moned by General Harrison met at the appointed time. 
Many of its leading men differed widely in opinion and it 
was soon seen that they were still more at variance with the 
President. Two bills, the first for establishing the " Fiscal 
Bank of the United States " and the second for the " Fiscal 
Corporation," were successively vetoed by Mr. Tyler as being 
contrary to the Constitution, and the Whig party at once 
showed themselves greatly displeased. The whole Cabinet, 
except Mr. Webster the Secretary of State, at once resigned, 
and the party became divided into the friends and enemies 
of the President, Mr. Clay being the leader of the latter. 
The outgoing Secretaries were replaced by Whigs who sus- 
tained Mr. Tyler's course. During the Congress of 1842 
Mr. Tyler likewise vetoed two Tariff Bills one after the other, 
but finally signed a third which he considered less objec- 
tionable. A treaty was agreed upon during this year 
between Lord Ashburton on the part of Great Britain and 
Daniel Webster, which established the boundaries between 
Maine and the surrounding provinces as you now see them 
on the map. 

Dorr's Rebellion, 1842. — At this time occurred in Rhode 
Island what was known as " Dorr's Rebellion." The State was 
still governed by its original charter granted by Charles II. 
This charter gave the right of suffrage to a very small pro- 
portion of the people. Dorr agitated the question of extend- 
ing the suffrage, got up a convention which issued a new 
constitution, and proceeded to set up another government. 
The legal governor took strong measures against this usurpa- 
tion of his power, and called on the President for troops to 
put it down. These were granted him, but the dissensions 
were settled without coming to bloodshed. Dorr was tried 
for treason and sentenced to life-long imprisonment, but he 
escaped from the State. Suffrage was after a while granted 
to those who contended for it, and Dorr returned to Rhode 
Island and remained unmolested. 

John Quincy Adams and the Petitions. — Mr. Adams con- 
tinued to present Abolition and other obnoxious petitions ; 
but during a journey through Pennsylvania he informed a 
society whose petitions he had frequently presented that he 
was " opposed to the abolition of slavery in the District of 



300 History of the United States. 

Columbia," not because he doubted the power of Congress 
to do so ; but because he regarded it as "a violation of repub- 
lican principles to enact laws at the petition of one people 
which are to operate upon another people without their con- 
sent. The people of the District have property in their slaves." 

Catastophe on the Princeton, 1844. — In February of this 
year the United States war vessel Princeton sailed up the 
Potomac and anchored below M^ashington. On the 28th, 
Captain Stockton invited the President with the Cabinet 
and other distinguished people from Washington to visit the 
ship. During the festivities, the " Peacemaker," one of the 
very largest cannon on the ship, was fired in honor of the 
guests. At the second discharge, the gun exploded and 
killed Mr. Upshur the Secretary of State, Mr. Gilmer the 
Secretary of the Navy, and several other prominent mem- 
bers of the party. 

Telegraph — Treaty with China, 1844. — In 1844 Professor 
Morse succeeded in operating successfully his magnetic tele- 
graph between Washington and Baltimore. The first mes- 
sage sent over the wire was: " What hath God wrought! " 
Professor Morse had been working at his invention for years 
in poverty, neglect, and discouragement, but his perse- 
verance and skill received the encouragement of this admin- 
istration and were at length rewarded by success. Diplomatic 
relations were now for the first time established with China, 
who had before this refused to hold any intercourse with 
" outside barbarians," as she called all civilized nations. 

Oregon Question. — The occupation and possession of Ore- 
gon by the British was much agitated at this time. That 
country had been discovered by Captain Gray in 1792. 
Lewis and Clarke had partially explored it during Mr. Jef- 
ferson's time. The first settlement was made at Astoria 
in 1810 by the American Fur Company, and it had been a 
part of the vast Louisiana Territory ceded by France to the 
United States. Great Britain had been allowed a joint occu- 
pation of Oregon and had gradually come to look upon it 
as partly hers, and it became important to establish the 
power and laws of the United States throughout the Territory. 

Texas Settled : The Alamo, 1836. — The most remarkable 
event in Mr. Tyler's time was the annexation of the Republic 
of Texas to the L^nited States. The first white settlement 



Tyler's Administration. 



301 




THE Al.A.Mi 



was made in Texas by La Salle, but it afterwards passed into 
the hands of Spain and was regarded as a part of Mexico. 
In 1820 and 1822, Moses Austin and his son Stephen, from 
Connecticut, obtained a large grant of land from the Spanish 
authorities, and carried a number of colonists from the 
United States to the region where the city of Austin now 
stands. The whole territory became free from Spanish rule 
when Mexico revolted and established an independent gov- 
ernment. Settlers 
from the United 
States continued to 
move into Texas, 
until in 1833 there 
were 20,000 of 
them. These Eng- 
lish-speaking peo- 
ple found the Mexi- 
can rule so oppres- 
sive that they de- 
termined to throw 
off the yoke and set 
up a republic for themselves. This they did in 1835, but 
not without desperate fighting and bloodshed. The fortress 
of the Alamo in San Antonio, in which was a force of 140 
men, to whom 32 others cut their way through the Mexican 
army, was besieged by Santa Anna with 4,000 Mexican sol- 
diers. After a bombardment of eleven days the Alamo was 
carried by storm and the whole garrison cut to pieces. Only 
three persons, a woman, a child, and a servant, were spared 
to tell the tale. Among these defenders of the Alamo per- 
ished Colonel Davy Crockett. 

Massacre of Goliad, 1836. — A few weeks later than this, 
the Mexicans brutally murdered 300 prisoners who had been 
overpowered by a large Mexican force and had surrendered. 
By Santa Anna's order they were all executed at Goliad. 
General Sam Houston, a native of Virginia, was commander- 
in-chief of the Texan army. His men had become dis- 
heartened by the defeats at the Alamo and Goliad, and were 
almost panic-stricken when General Houston continued to 
fall back before Santa Anna, across the Colorado, across the 
Brazos, and at last across the San Jacinto. Such was the 




302 History of the United States. 

dread of Mexican barbarity that the whole population tried 
to move on and keep Houston's army between them and 
Santa Anna. 

Battle of San Jacinto, 1836. — Having drawn Santa Anna 
and a detachment of his army away from reinforcements 
and supplies, Houston collected about 800 men and on April 
21, 1836, gave battle on the field of San Jacinto to the pur- 
suing army, double in number. Their war-cry was " Remem- 
ber the Alamo! Remember Goliad! " and 
they soon routed the army, killing and 
capturing almost all of them. Among the 
prisoners taken was Santa Anna, the 
President of the Mexican Republic. Gen- 
eral Houston entered into negotiations 
with him. The Mexican troops were with- 
drawn, and the independence of Texas 
was accomplished. Houston was elected 
President, and the Republic of Texas was ^ m ir r' 

formally recognized by the United States Houston. 

in 1887 and by England and France two years later. By this 
time the population of the Republic had risen to about 
200,000. Most of these were from the United States and 
their ardent desire was to be admitted as one of the States 
of the Union. As early as 1837 Texas applied to be annexed 
to the United States, but her proposition was rejected by 
President Van Buren. Mr. Tyler was much in favor of it. 

Annexation of Texas, 1845. — When the presidential elec- 
tion came on in 1844 the main issues of the contest were 
whether Texas should be received into the Union and 
Oregon retained or ceded to Great Britain. These questions 
were in the main supported by the Democratic party, and 
their candidates, .James K. Polk of Tennessee and George 
M. Dallas of Pennsylvania, were elected by a large majority 
over Clay and Frelinghuysen, the Whig candidates. Con- 
gress which met shortly after voted that Texas should be 
annexed, and Mr. Tyler signed the bill just before his term 
of office expired. By the conditions of annexation it was 
decreed that four additional States might at some future day 
be formed out of the immense territory thus acquired. 
Those south of the line of the Missouri Compromise, 36° 30^ 
should be free or slave-holding as their people might choose, 



Polk's Administration. 303 

while north of that line slavery should be prohibited. Not- 
withstanding this just apportionment of the newly-acquired 
country between the free and the slave States, there was 
violent opposition on the part of the North to receiving 
Texas, because it would " extend slavery," would give more 
influence to the South in Congress, and increase the num- 
ber of votes opposed to a protective tariff. Some who 
argued against it took the ground that it was unconstitu- 
tional, but all its opponents were influenced principally by 
the apprehension that through it the North would lose con- 
trol of the government, for which she constantly contended. 
Admission of Florida, 1845. — Florida also was admitted 
into the Union as a State during the last days of Tyler's 
administration. 

AUTHORITIES.— Hildreth's History of the United States, Vol. VI.; Schouler's 
History of the United States. Vol. III.; McMaster's History of the American Peo- 
ple, Vol. IV.; Winsor's Narrative and Critical History of the United States, Vol. 
VII.; American Statesmen Series, Monroe, Calhoun, Clay, and Webster; Benton's 
Thirty Years in the Senate; Annals of Congress; Letters and Time of the Tylers; Par- 
ton's Andrew Jackson; Colton's Henry Clay; Wilson's Division and Reunion; Alex- 
ander Johnston's History and Constitution of the United States; Apyileton's Encyclo- 
pedia; Encyclopedia of American Biography. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. Who became President in 1841, and what were his 
views ? 2. What bills did he veto ? 3. What troubles did he have with his 
Cabinet? 4. Tell of Dorr's Rebellion. 5. What opinion did John Quiney 
Adams express as to the abolition petitions ? 6. What terrible disaster happened 
on the Princeto7i ? 7. What was the first telegram , and when was it sent ? 
8. What was the Oregon Question? 9. Tell of the .settlement of Texas. 
10. The siege of the Alamo. 11. The massacre of Goliad. 13. The battle of 
San Jacinto. 13. Who was the first President of Texas? 14. Who was 
elected President of the United States in 1844? 15. Tell of the annexation of 
Texas. 16. When was Florida admitted to the Union? 17. Find all the 
places on the map. 



CHAPTER LVII. 

FOLK'S ADMINISTRATION— MEXICAN WAR. 

"Army of Occupation. "^-In his inaugural address on March 
4, 1845, Mr. Polk expressed his intention to defend the claim 
of the United States both to the newly-acquired Texas and 
to Oregon, forcibly should it prove a necessity. The Con- 
gress of Texas adopted the proposition of the United States 
previously made and on December 29th she was formally 




304 History of the United States. 

recognized as a State of the Union. Texas claimed the Rio 
Grande as her southwestern boundary. Mexico declared it 
to be the Nueces, and the country between 
the two rivers was thus debatable ground. 
Seeing that a contest must be waged for 
this territory, Mr. Polk ordered General 
Zachary Taylor with about 5,000 soldiers, 
called the "Army of Occupation," to take 
possession of and defend it. 

Acts of Congress, 1845. — During this 
session of Congress a more moderate tariff 
was agreed upon, the independent Trea- 
''"'''^* sury system was re-enacted, and the Smith- 

sonian Institute finally established. The Oregon question 
was amicably settled the next year, when the 49° of latitude 
was made the dividing line and the country south of that at 
once passed into the possession of the United States. 

Beginning of the Mexican War, 1846. — In March General 
Taylor advanced to the Rio Grande and built Fort Brown 
just across from Matamoras. The Mexican General Ampu- 
dia notified General Taylor that he considered his advance 
as a commencement of hostilities, and on April 26th sixty- 
three men under Captain Thornton were attacked on the 
east side of the river by a superior Mexican force and were 
all killed or captured. This was the first blood shed in the 
Mexican war, and when the facts were communicated to 
Congress by the President, there was an outburst of indig- 
nation throughout the United States. Congress declared 
that ''War existed by the act of Mexico," put $10,000,000 
at the President's disposal, and empowered him to call for 
50,000 volunteers. Such was the enthusiasm for the war 
that 300,000 men oflPered their services. Two-thirds of the 
soldiers mustered into service were from the Southern States. 
This addition to the army was an absolute necessity, since the 
regular troops did not amount to 9,000 men of all arms. The 
Mexican army greatly outnumbered that of the United States 
and was composed of well-drilled and fairly brave troops, but 
its officers were indifferent and full of jealousy towardsone 
another. 

Battle of Palo Alto, 1846.— When General Taylor found 
that the Mexicans threatened to cut off his supplies, he left 



PoWs Administration. 305 

a small garrison at Fort Brown and marched to Point Isabel, 
his provision depot, which he strengthened and garrisoned. 
On his return to Fort Brown with less than 3,000 men and 
a huge provision train, on the 8th of May, he found his way 
blocked on the plain of Palo Alto by a Mexican army 6,000 
strong. A desperate fight of five hours ensued. The 
American artillery was excellent and well handled and 
aided greatly in securing the victory. The most dis- 
tinguished among the slain was Major Samuel Ringgold of 
the Flying Artiller}^, who was shot while directing his guns. 
When his friends rushed to assist him, " Leave me alone," 
he said, ''you are wanted in front," He lived to know that 
he had helped to achieve the success of his countrymen. 
The next day General Taylor gained another victory at 
Resaca de la Palma three miles from Fort Brown. The 
whole Mexican army was routed and by nightfall not a 
Mexican was to be found east of the Rio Grande. 

Three Armies Sent to Mexico. — It was now determined at 
Washington to send three different armies against Mexico. 
General Taylor was to lead his column into the interior 
from Matamoras. A force under General Kearney was to 
march upon California through New Mexico, and General 
Wool was to seize the northern provinces of Mexico. 

Capture of Monterey, 1846. — General Taylor moved at 
once, and in August with 6,500 men attacked Monterey, the 
capital of the province of New Leon, which was garrisoned 
by 10,000 men. After a few days Monterey was surrendered 
and evacuated, and Saltillo, Victoria, and Tampico were suc- 
cessively occupied by the Americans. 

Fremont's Capture of California, 1846. — In the mean 
time General Kearney had taken possession of the whole of 
New Mexico, had established a new government there, and 
late in November set out for California with about 400 men. 
But California had already fallen into American hands, 
mainly through the efforts of Colonel John C. Fremont. 
Fremont had in 1842 been sent out by the United States in 
charge of a party to explore the Rocky Mountain country. 
He encountered great hardships, but pushed his way with 
undaunted spirit, climbed the mountain ranges, ascertained 
where the passes lay, traced the courses of the streams, and 
carefully noted the aspect and peculiarities of the country 
20 



306 



History of the United States. 



through which he passed. On August 15th he with four of 
his men climbed the highest of the Mud River Mountains 
now known as Fremont's Peak, and planted the United 
States flag amid the eternal snow^s at its summit. In a 
second expedition Fremont explored the great country 
between the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, tra- 
versing the South Pass, finding and exploring the Great Salt 
Lake region, visiting the headwaters of the Colorado and 
Columbia, and passing down the latter river nearly to its 
mouth. He crossed the Sierra Nevada in the depth of win- 
ter without a guide, to save his band from starvation, and in 
a third expedition extended his investigations through the 
Great Basin and the coast region of Oregon and California. 




feemont's peak.. 



He was in California when he learned in 1846 that hostili- 
ties had broken out between Mexico and the United States. 
Therefore he proceeded to organize the American settlers 
into a new government, of which he was made the head. 
Learning that an American squadron under Commodore 
Sloat had seized Monterey, the Capital of the Mexican 
Government in California, Fremont proceeded thither with 
a command of mounted riflemen and put himself and his 
men under Commodore Stockton, who had just arrived with 
authority from Congress to capture California. Owing to 



Polk's Administration. 307 

Fremont's influence this was speedily done and that valuable 
territory fell into possession of the United States with little 
opposition. This information was brought to General Kear- 
ney by Kit Carson, a famous trapper and hunter, who had 
accompanied Fremont in his most perilous and arduous 
journeyings. 

Doniphan's March. — Sending some of his men back to 
Santa Fe, Kearney with the rest fought his way to the 
Pacific coast, while Colonel Doniphan by his order took 1,000 
Missouri troops and marched across the waterless plains into 
Mexico to join the troops under General Worth. Worth 
had gone another way, but Doniphan defeated the Mexican 
forces four times as strong as his own and captured the 
wealthy city of Chihuahua. Northern and northwestern 
Mexico was thus in the power of the United States, and it 
was determined to send a larger army under General Scott 
to land at Vera Cruz and march upon the City of Mexico. 
General Scott ordered General Taylor to send to him the 
larger part of the "Army of Occupation," thus reducing 
Taylor's force so much that he was obliged to retire from 
Saltillo to Monterey. Here he was joined by a well-drilled 
volunteer reinforcement under General Wool, and made 
another advance. 

Santa Anna's Return. — Santa Anna, the most able states- 
man and best general among the Mexicans, had been in exile 
in Cuba. In their hour of danger his countrymen desired 
his return. The authorities at Washington also wished him 
to come back, thinking no doubt that he would use his influ- 
ence to restore peace and to give up Texas. Secret orders 
were therefore given that his vessel should be allowed to pass 
unmolested through the squadron blockading the Gulf coast. 
But once more in his native land he proved her stoutest 
defender. He knew that the best part of General Taylor's 
army had gone to join General Scott, and having collected 
about 20,000 men he hurried up to crush and annihilate the 
reduced American army. General Taylor posted his force 
strongly at the mountain pass of Buena Vista not very far 
from Saltillo. 

Battle of Buena Vista, 1847. — Santa Anna came up on 
February 22d. After a few shots were exchanged he sent a 
flag of truce with a demand for immediate and uncondi- 



308 History of the United States. 

tional surrender. " General Taylor never surrenders," was 
the reply of Colonel Crittenden who was sent to meet the 
Mexican emissaries. The next day the Mexicans attacked 
the Americans fiercely in the centre where the artillery and 
Wool's infantry drove them back. The main effort was then 
directed against the American left, and for a time tlie issue 
seemed doubtful. Troops from Arkansas and Indiana, after 
sustaining the onslaught of thousands, were obliged to give 
way. At the critical moment General Taylor ordered up to 
their support a regiment from Kentucky and one from Mis- 
sissippi under Colonel Jefferson Davis, which pressed forward 
and with their accurate and effective rifle firing broke the 
enemy's advance and forced him to retreat. The American 
artillery under Sherman and Bragg was splendidly served 
and did tremendous execution with the solid shot, grape, 
and canister which they poured into the crowded ranks 
of the enemy. It was during this fight that General Taylor 
rode up on his war horse, " Old Whitey," and exclaimed, 
" Give them a little more grape. Captain Bragg." The order 
was eagerly obeyed, and under the hot and destructive vol- 
leys poured into them, the Mexicans fell back to points out 
of cannon range, and the battle was over for the day. The 
torn and shattered American army slept on their arms. 
But wheu morning came the Mexican army had withdrawn 
and the victory was fully won. General Taylor's loss was 
over 700, that of the Mexicans 2,000. Twenty-eight Ameri- 
can officers were killed, among them Colonels Hardin, Mc- 
Kee, and Yell, and Lieutenant-Colonel Clay, the son of the 
great statesman of Kentucky. This wonderful victory, added 
to General Taylor's former successes, gave him great popu- 
larity among the American people who have always admired 
bravery and persistent devotion to duty. 

AUTHORITIES.— Schouler's History of the United States, Vols. IV., V.; Benton's 
Thirty Years in the Senate; Annals of Congress; McMaster's History of American 
People, Vol. IV. ; Epochs of History ; Woodrow Wilson's Disunion and Reunion ; Alex- 
ander Johnston's History and Constitution of the United States; Lalor's Cyclopedia 
of Political Science; Appleton's Encyclopedia; Wilcox's History of the Mexican War; 
Memoir of Jefferson Davis. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. Who was now President of the United States? 2. Why 
was an army sent to Texas ? 3. What important acts were passed by Con- 
gress in 1845 ? 4. Tell of the beghming of the Mexican War. 5. The battle 
of Palo Alto. 6. Of Resaca de la Palma. 7. How many armies were next 
sent against Mexico? 8. Describe the capture of Monterey. 9. Who had 
already taken California? 10. Tell of Fremont's explorations in 'the West. 




Polk's Administration. 809 

11. What famous hunter was with him? 12. Describe Doniphan's march. 
13. Where did General Scott go ? 14. What Mexican general now returned 
home? 15. Where had he been, and why did he return? 16. Describe the 
terrible battle of Buena Vista. 17. What three regiments earned the day ? 



CHAPTER LVIII. 

POLK'S ADMINTSTRATTON—MEXWAN WAR, CONTINUED. 

Surrender of Vera Cruz, 1847. — General Taylor's success 
enabled the United States to bend all their energies to cap- 
ture Vera Cruz. In March General Scott 
landed 12,000 men and made preparations 
to bombard it. Before opening fire, Gen- 
eral Scott sent a message to the Spanish 
governor to surrender the town. Thinking 
the Castle of San Juan D'Alloa impregna- 
ble, the governor replied that he would general scott. 
defend the city. Then the American guns began a tremen- 
dous firing upon the castle and city. The Mexican guns 
replied, but did little damage to the Americans. In two 
days the destruction was so great that both places surren- 
dered ; 400 cannon were captured, and 4,000 Mexican sol- 
diers paroled and sent home ; and General Scott made pre- 
parations to advance upon Mexico. 

Cerro Gordo. — The pass of Cerro Gordo, about fifteen 
miles from Vera Cruz, was held by Santa Anna with a large 
force. Mexico is a country of peculiar formation. There 
is a region of low land along the coast. From this rises a 
long mountain chain with few passes and steep roads. Once 
up the ascent you come to a high table land, diversified by 
mountains, plains covered with sharp volcanic rocks and 
thorny cactus bushes, and everywhere difficult travelling for 
man and beast. Santa Anna's position was too strong to 
attack in front. A pathway was found around the steep 
mountain side, and under the direction of the skilful engi- 
neers, Lee, McClellan, Beauregard, and others, a road was 
cut for the army, which thus passed round to a point from 
which Santa Anna afterwards said he did not think a goat 
could have attacked him. On April 18th the Mexicans were 
driven from the Pass, with great loss. The Americans 



810 History of the United States. 

pressed on and occuj^ied first Jalapa and then Puebla, where 
General Scott was obliged to stay for a while and wait for 
reinforcements. When these reached him, he advanced 
again early in August with nearly 11,000 men. 

Advance on the City of Mexico. — The City of Mexico lies 
in a basin surrounded by mountains, containing numerous 
lakes and much marshy ground, so that the principal roads 
leading to it are along causeways built in the marsh or over 
the water of the lakes, which were defended by forts and 
castles of much strength. Finding the direct road from 
Puebla to Mexico strongly defended. General Scott made a cir- 
cuit and gained a jDosition where he could advance upon the 
capital from the south and west. But much hard fighting had 
first to be done. Contreras wasthe opening battle of the series. 
A combined attack in front and rear of the fortifications on 
the morning of the 20th of August brought speedy victory 
to the American arms. The victors then pressed on and 
the enemy was again encountered at the strong position of 
Cherubusco on the direct road to Mexico. Fierce fighting 
again defeated the Mexicans. 

Chapultepec, 1847. — The strong fortress of Chapultepec 
barred the way to the city. The first of its outposts, Molinos 
del Rey, or the King's Mills, was attacked on the morning 
of September 8th and carried in two hours at the point of 
the bayonet. General Scott decided to storm Chapultepec 
and advance to the Belen gate immediately in its rear. On 
the 13th the infantry was ordered to storm the works, and 
the assaulting parties rushed up the acclivity, planted their 
ladders, and scaled the works of the fortress. Brave 
soldiers crowded into the works, and after a hand to 
hand fight the castle was taken. Heavy fighting went on all 
around the base of the fortress, and many soldiers of whom 
you must hear much as we go on, gained their first laurels 
in this Mexican campaign. For gallantry in having mounted 
a howitzer in the belfry of a church and using it with eff'ect 
against the enemy, U. S. Grant was brevetted captain and 
complimented by General AVorth. 

Capture of Mexico, 1847. — From Chapultepec the Ameri- 
cans pressed rapidly forward, forced the defences of the 
Belen gate, and entered the streets of the Capital. A South 
Carolina regiment had led the van, and the Palmetto flag of 



Polk's Administraton. 



811 



their State was quickly planted on an elevated scaffold. 
The San Cosmi gate was likewise carried, and by nightfall 
of September 13th, the city of Mexico was in the hands of 
the Americans. The taking of the Capital was really the 
end of the war with Mexico. There was some guerrilla 
fighting afterwards, and Santa Anna attempted to capture 
the garrison at Puebla, but was foiled. 

Peace, 1848. — After some months of delay, a treaty of 
peace was signed at Guadaloupe-Hidalgo on February 2, 
1848, which guaranteed to the United States all the terri- 
tory claimed by Texas and the region now comprising New 
Mexico, Arizona, and California. For this they were to pay 
Mexico $15,000,000, besides a $1,500,000 debt due American 
citizens. The treaty was ratified by the Senate, and on July 
4, 1848, President Polk issued a proclamation of peace. 
Five years later, there was some dispute about the bounda- 
ries, which, however, was settled by General James Gads- 
den of South Carolina, the 
United States commissioner, 
by the purchase of the Mesilla 
Valley, south of the Gila 
River. 

Discovery of Gold in Cali- 
fornia, 1848.— The value of 
the newly acquired territory 
was immensely increased by 
the discovery of vast quanti- 
ties of gold in California in 
February, 1848. Crowds of 
adventurers flocked to Cali- 
fornia from Europe, Asia, and 
America, and in eighteen 
months 100,000 persons went 
from the United States to the 
"gold diggings." The first 
emigrants were only men, 
who sailed round Cape Horn 
or undertook the weary, perilous journey across the conti- 
nent. Ships soon crowded into the harbor of San Francisco, 
which from a village rapidly grew to a flourishing city. At 
first the greed for gold swallowed up everything else. 




DISCOVERY OF GOLD. 



312 History of the United States. 

Sailors abandoned their vessels, merchants their shops, law- 
yers and doctors their professions, to crowd into the mining 
camps and dig and delve for gold. Prices for everything 
were enormous, and a man could barely live on the gold he 
toiled for. 

Vigilance Committees. — Society . was disorganized and 
crime ran riot, until Vigilance Committees were formed to 
protect the weak and punish the guilty. Gradually affairs 
became more settled, law and order prevailed, men turned 
their attention to farming, fruit-growing, and sheep-raising. 
Homes were established, and family life took the place of 
the rude squatting and camping near the diggings; and 
California with her fine climate and fertile soil became 
flourishing and prosperous beyond what her gold fields alone 
could have accomplished. 

Iowa, 1846, and Wisconsin, 1848, Admitted to the Union. — 
Two new States were admitted during this administration, 
Iowa in 1846, and Wisconsin in 1848. In February of 1848 
the venerable John Quincy Adams was stricken with paraly- 
sis while engaged at his desk in the House of Representa- 
tives, and died in the eighty-first year of his age. In the 
fall of this year the Presidential election was carried by the 
Whigs for General Taylor with Millard Fillmore of New York 
as Vice-President. 

AUTHORITIES.— Schouler's History of the United States, Vols. IV., V. ; Benton's 
Til irty Years in the Senate; Annals of Congress; McMaster's History of the Ameri- 
can People, Vol. II.; Epochs of History; Woodrow Wilson's Disunion and Reunion; 
Alexander Johnston's History and Constitution of the United States; Lalor's Cyclo- 
pedia of Political Science ; Appleton's Encyclopedia ; Wilcox's History of the Mexican 
War; Memoir of Jefferson Davis. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. Who attacked Vera Cruz? 2. Describe its capture. 
3. AVhat was the next fij^ht and who commanded the Mexicans ? 4. Describe 
the country and the battle. 5. To what city did Scott now advance ? 6. Tell 
of the battles on the way. 7. The taking of IMexico. 8. When was it? 
9. AVhen and where was peace signed? 10. What were its provisions? 
11. What great discoveiy was made in 1848 ? 12. Its effects? 13. Describe 
the settling of California. 14. When were Iowa and Wisconsin admitted to the 
Union? 15. Who was elected President in 1848? 16. Be sure to find the 
places mentioned. 



CHAPTER LIX. 

POLK' 8 ADMINISTRATION, CONTINUED—TAYLOR'S ADMIN- 
ISTRATION. 

Progress of the Country. — Since we last took a compre- 
hensive view of our country, the United States have 
increased amazingly in extent, in population, in wealth, and 
in prosperity. The annexation of Texas and the great 
extent of territory acquired from Mexico have nearly 




^fe,-. 







SAN FRANCISCO IN 1M',». 



doubled the area of the Republic, already enlarged by the 
purchase of Louisiana and Florida from France and Spain. 
Much of this country was as yet without white settlers, but 
under the improved conditions of transportation by steam- 
ships, steamboats, and railroads, it was soon to receive a 
host of immigrants. 

Population and Industries. — The population of the country 
had risen from about 5,000,000 in 1800, to over 23,000,000. 
This population was engaged in developing the agricultural 
and mineraj. resources of the country or in manufacturing. 

[313] 



314 History of tJie United States. 

Iron and steel were produced in large quanties. Millions of 
yards of cotton and woollen goods ran from the looms of the 
great factories in New England and elsewhere. Coal to 
mak-e the iron, run the steam engines, and warm the houses, 
was mined in A^irginia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. By 
the assistance of McCormick's reapers and other improved 
agricultural implements, farming became much less labo- 
rious, and many more acres were brought under cultivation. 
Sewing-machines had changed the character of women's 
work, if they had not lessened it. 

Schools and Churches. — Mental progress had been equally 
striking. Common schools were flourishing and more than 
two hundred colleges had been established ; 2,500 different 
newspapers carried information to all parts of the country. 
The churches and religious bodies had grown and extended 
their influence throughout the land, though they had 
scarcely kept pace with the rapid material advance, and had 
not shown the unselfish missionary spirit which now carries 
them to the farthest outposts of civilization. 

Moral Unrest. — The rapid increase of wealth from the 
gold of California was a great stimulus to the growth and 
development of the country. The influx of foreign immi- 
gration, which brought hundreds of thousands of Europeans 
to our shores, produced great changes in the character and 
opinions of the population, especially in the North and North- 
west. A spirit of unrest and a desire to upset the old order 
of things showed themselves in the originating of new 
religious sects, of fantastic societies, of strange proposals of 
all sorts to alter the habits and customs of the people, and 
in many instances to do away with law and order alto- 
gether. 

The Slavery Question. — Thus the outlook for the future 
was not all encouraging. The continued and persistent 
efforts and publications of the Abolitionists, under the lead 
of William Lloyd Garrison and the Quakers, had manu- 
factured and influenced a large amount of sentiment at 
the North. The Methodist and Baptist Churches each 
divided on the question into Northern and Southern 
Churches which were now hostile to each other, and the 
same separation took place later among the Presbyterians. 
It was asserted from the pulpits that slavery was contrary to 



Polk's Administration. 315 

the Word of God and not possible for Christian people. 
The error of such statements could readily be proved by 
scholars who knew that in the Old Testament Hebrew and 
the New Testament Greek, " the manservant and maidser- 
vant " of the fourth and tenth commandments, and the 
" servants" so often mentioned in the gospels and epistles, 
were slaves in the absolute power of their masters ; and 
wdio saw that nowhere in the Scriptures was there any direct 
condemnation of what was now declared to be so wicked. 
When this w^as proved, the Abolitionists fell back on what 
they called the " higher law " — that there was a teaching 
purer and better than the Word of God. The Southern 
people, on the other hand, were satisfied to know that their 
" peculiar institution " was not directly condemned in Holy 
Writ and some of them considered slavery as a positive good. 

Difficulty of Freeing the Slaves. — We may look back now 
and wonder that men so noble and chivalrous and women 
so pure and gentle and true, as were those of the Southern 
States, did not see more clearly the evils inherent in their 
system ; while we marvel also that the North could not 
understand how unjust and overbearing was its conduct 
towards the slave-holding section. But for this interference, 
the Southern States would most probably have taken steps 
to rid themselves of slavery. Virginia had nearly done so 
in 1832. But their indignation was aroused. Their self- 
respect seemed to require that they should insist on maintain- 
ing a right so constantly assailed ; and the great diihculty 
of knowing w^hat to do with the negroes, should their 
masters impoverish themselves to set them free, made them 
more resolute to claim their constitutional right to continue 
and extend their domestic institutions in the southern part 
at least of all the new territory. 

Wilmot Proviso. — The North was determined not to con- 
sent to this. In 1846 and again in 1847 the " Wilmot Pro- 
viso " — that slavery should be nowhere permitted in the 
newly acquired territory — was passed by the House of Repre- 
sentatives and rejected by the calmer and still conservative 
Senate. This Proviso was a direct setting aside of the Mis- 
souri Compromise which had made 36° 30' the dividing 
line beyond which slavery should not go. Its practical 
result would be to shut up the Southern people with their 



316 History of the United States. 

slaves to the States which they already occupied ; while the 
Northern States, with their population already changing in 
character by foreign immigration, would get all power in 
the government into their own hands to be used as seemed 
to them best. 

The South and the Territories. — To this the Southern 
States were by no means willing to yield. It was not slavery 
that they contended for so much as their right to an equal 
share in the common property of the Republic. They knew 
how much they had done and suffered and sacrificed to 
establish it. Their citizens had bled for freedom on every 
battle-field of the Revolution. After asserting and protect- 
ing her rights and those of her citizens for more than a hun- 
dred years, Virginia had taken the Nortliwest Territory by 
the valor of her sons, and had then presented it to the gen- 
eral government, in order to secure the ratification of the 
Confederation by the requisite number of States. She gave 
her consent when that vast portion of what had been her 
lawful domain was debarred from becoming a home for slave- 
holders. Together the Southern States had warred against 
the Indians and driven them out, had broken the invading 
power of Great Britain at New Orleans, and had furnished 
two-thirds of the soldiers who had conquered Mexico and 
thus won a vast new region for the Union. 

Constitutional Rights. — They knew that the Constitution, 
only established after concessions in which they had given 
up much of their power, guaranteed equal rights to all the 
States and to their individual citizens; that Congress had 
repeatedly declared that it had no power to interfere with 
them; and they could not see that there was now any justice 
in the long continued system of interference which had been 
carried on by the Abolitionists, or in this latest avowed 
effort to shut them off from any share in the vast and 
wealthy region lately acquired. In 1848, when the question 
of organizing the Territory of Oregon came up, the Wilmot 
Proviso was attached to it. An amendment declaring that 
this was done because the Territory lay north of 36° 30' 
was rejected. This persistent determination to take posses- 
sion of the whole western country gave rise to what was 
called the Free Soil party, which, insignificant at first, grew 
to have immense influence in the country. 




Polk's Administration. 317 

Strife in Congress, 1849. — General Taylor and Mr. Fill- 
more were inaugurated on March 4, 1849, nnd the Cabinet 
was selected from among the leaders of 
the Whig party north and south. In the 
mean time, the settlers in California had 
assembled and formed a constitution for 
themselves and applied to be admitted 
into the Union as a State. This was an 
irregular mode of proceeding, as no ter- 
ritorial government had ever been setup 
there. When Congress met in Decem- 
ber, the difference of feeling and opinion 
among the members was shown by the 
diihculty of electing a Speaker in the House of Representa- 
tives. For nearly three weeks the contest lasted and in the 
end was decided by the election of Howell Cobb of Georgia 
by a simple plurality vote. From this time until the last 
of September, 1850, both Houses of Congress were the scenes 
of stormy and protracted debates. The three great states- 
men, Calhoun, Clay, and Webster, were still in the Senate 
and made their mightiest efforts to allay the spirit of strife 
and point their countrymen to a way of peace and harmony, 
but their own views were widely different. 

"Omnibus Bill." — Mr. Clay, who has been called "The 
Great Pacificator " and who had already introduced more 
than one compromise measure, now brought in a bill which 
covered so much ground that it was called the " Omnibus 
Bill." It proposed among other things to admit California 
under its new constitution which excluded slavery forever; 
to organize territories in Utah and New Mexico without any 
slave restriction; to make it imperative upon the free States 
to restore to their owners any fugitive slaves coming into 
them; and to suppress the buying and selling of slaves in 
the District of Columbia. This bill satisfied few of the con- 
gressmeiT. The North was opposed to allowing any possi- 
bility of slavery in the new territories, and was almost as 
earnest against giving up fugitive slaves; while it was eager 
for the total abolition of slavery in the District. The South, 
on the other hand, wks opposed to the admission of Califor- 
nia under what they thought an illegal constitution. They 
thought also that there could be no lawful restriction of 



318 History of the United States. 

slavery south of 36° 30'; they insisted that the Southern 
people should have their right to carry their slaves into the 
new territories; and that the settlers in those territories 
should decide for or against slavery, when they were admitted 
as States. 

Debate Between Calhoun and Webster. — Mr. Clay pre- 
sented and defended his bill with his accustomed eloquence. 
Mr. Calhoun was too feeble to address the Senate, but he 
prepared an argument, perhaps the strongest of his life, in 
which he besought his countrymen to consider what they 
were doing. He Avent over the history of the Union and 
pointed out that the South had made continual concessions 
to preserve it, but that she could not consent to the present 
encroachment upon her rights, which involved her destruc- 
tion; and he warned his Northern brethren that, if they 
persisted in their hostile injustice, the Union must inevita- 
bly perish. This speech was read by Mr. Mason of Virginia 
and listened to with breathless attention. Mr. Webster, as 
the exponent of the better part of the Northern people, 
replied to Mr. Calhoun. His speech was eloquent and pow- 
erful. He deprecated the ground taken by the Abolition 
societies, and avowed that the result of their efforts had been 
so far to continue slavery in the South. He acknowledged 
that the slave-owners were as upright and honest Christians 
as any in the world. He expressed himself as opposed to the 
AVilmot Proviso, on one hand, and to any extension of slavery, 
on the other, claiming that the climate of the territories had 
fixed its bounds. He declared that the only ground of just 
complaint the South had was that the slaves who escaped to 
the North were sheltered and abetted instead of being at once 
returned to their owners. This speech did not touch the 
main point raised by the South, that their citizens had the 
right to go into the new territories and carry their slave 
property without danger of molestation. One of its utter- 
ances, "that peaceable secession" was impossible, was pro- 
phetic, as was also Calhoun's declaration, that persistence 
in the Northern restrictions must endanger the Union. Mr. 
Webster proposed that the monej' derived from the sale 
of public lands in the territory ceded by Virginia — 
$80,000,000 — should be paid to her and the other Southern 
States, to carry away and colonize their negroes, if they 



Fillmore's Administration. 319 

should be set free. But neither he nor any other Northern 
statesman ever thought to suggest that, to procure the aboli- 
tion of slavery, the Northern people would be willing to 
take steps to pay for the negroes, as England had done in 
the West Indies. 

AUTHORITIES.— Schouler's History of the United States, Vols. IV., V.; Benton's 
Thirty Years in the Senate; McMaster's History of tlie American People, Vol. II.; 
Epochs of History ; Woodrow Wilson's Disunion and Reunion ; Alexander Johnston's 
History and Constitution of the United States, Lalor's Cyclopedia of Political Sci- 
ence; Appleton's Encyclopedia; Congressional Record; Encyclopedia of Biography. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. Tell of the progress of the country, 2. Its population 
and industries. 3. What of the schools and churches ? 4. The spirit of moral 
unrest. 5. What were the different views of the moral right of slavery? 
6. What was one practical difficulty in the way of freeing the slaves ? 7. What 
was the Wilmot Proviso ? 8. Its result if adopted ? 9. Why could the South 
claim equal rights in the territories? 10. What constitutional rights had she? 
11. What sort of meetings did Congress have in 1849-50? 12. Who were the 
great leaders? 13. Did they agree in their opinions? 14. Describe the 
"Omnibus Bill." 15. Tell of Calhoun's great speech. 16. Of Webster's. 
17. What proposal did Webster make ? 



CHAPTER LX. 

FILLMORE'S ADMINISTRATION. 

Death of Calhoun and Taylor, 1850: — Mr. Calhoun died 
on the last day of March. The President, General Taylor, 
also died of malignant fever on July 9th, and was succeeded 
by Millard Fillmore the Vice-President. 

The "Irrepressible Conflict." — The death of the illus- 
trious statesman and of the Chief Magistrate caused a tem- 
porary lull in the excited debates in Congress, but the strife 
soon waxed hot again. What Mr. Seward later on termed 
" the irrepressible conflict " between the North and South 
had begun and was only to be settled by a great national 
convulsion and internecine strife. The slave-holding sec- 
tion knew its rights and was determined to uphold them. 
The abolition region was equally resolved to crush out 
slavery. One by one the provisions of the " Omnibus Bill " 
were passed, and Mr. Fillmore declared that he regarded 
them as a final settlement of the dangerous and exciting sub- 
jects which they were intended to regulate. Time showed 



320 



History of the United States. 



how greatly he was mistaken. California was admitted into 
the Union in August, 1850, and this time there was no 
Southern State to come in and balance her vote, as there 
had been none since Texas ; while in the Northwest a new 
State was admitted every few years. 

The Capitol. — The size of Congress grew with the num- 
ber of States, until the Halls of the Capitol could no longer 
hold it comfortably. To remedy this two new wings were 
planned, of which the corner stone was laid on the 4th of 
July, 1851. On this occasion Mr. Webster delivered one 
of his grand orations to an immense audience. 

Reduction of Postage. — During this administration, the 
rate of postage on letters was reduced from ten cents to 
three cents. 

Grinnell Arctic Expeditions, 1850, 1854. — Mr. Henry 
Grinnell, a rich merchant of New York, furnished the 

m^ney to fit out two 
vessels manned by 
United States oflEicers 
and sailors, to go in 
search of Sir John 
Franklin, an Arctic 
cxjdorer from Eng- 
land of whom noth- 
ing had been heard 
for five years. Lieu- 
tenant De Haven 

FOBT HILL— HOME OF CALHOUN. 

who was ni com- 
mand found no definite news of Franklin and his men, 
but acquired valuable information of the northern regions 
of our continent. Four years later, Mr. Grinnell sent 
another expedition under Dr. Elisha Kent Kane, which 
reached the nearest point to the North Pole which any 
explorers had yet attained. Expeditions which explored 
the vast regions of the Amazon and La Plata Rivers in 
South America gave accurate knowledge of those hitherto 
unknown valleys and plains ; and about the same time 
treaties were made with Brazil, Peru, and other South 
American governments. 

Perry's Expedition to Japan, 1852. — In the autumn of 
1852 the United States sent to Japan an expedition under 







Fillmore's Administration. 321 

command of Captain M. C. Perry who succeeded in begin- 
ning negotiations with the exclusive Japanese, and after a 
year or two persuaded them to admit American vessels into 
two of tlieir harbors. This was followed by a treaty of 
peace and commerce, and the two nations have since been 
on the most friendly terms. 

Lopez's Attempt to Seize Cuba. — A certain General Lopez, 
a discontented Cuban, conceived the idea of seizing the 
Island of Cuba, overthrowing the Spanish government, and 
selling or annexing the island to the United States. Allured 
by the spirit of adventure and hope of gain, several hundred 
hot-headed young Americans joined in this filibustering 
expedition, but Mr. Fillmore issued a proclamation warning 
them that the government would in no way countenance or 
protect them. The adventurers landed on the coast of 
Cuba but met with little success in their design. Lopez 
and a number of his followers were captured, the leaders 
were executed, and the rest sent as prisoners to Spain where 
they were finally released. In like manner, the President 
would give no official expression to his own and the nation's 
sympathy with Hungary in the struggle she made at this 
time to throw off the Austrian j^oke. 

Foreign Immigration. — The tide of European immigration, 
which lias overrun the United States, received its first great 
impetus from the Irish famine in 1847. The starving Irish- 
men came in thousands to America as the land of plenty 
which offered bread and homes to all. Political strife all 
over the Continent of Europe, added to the toil and effort 
necessary to make the scantiest living, brought over hordes 
of hardy peasants and industrious citizens, and, at the same 
time, an appalling crowd of the idle and vicious from the 
Old World. In the seven years between 1847 and 1854, two 
millions and a half of foreigners came into the country. 

Immigrants in the Northwest. — The low price at which 
the government sold its lands in the fertile regions of the 
Northwest — $25 for a hundred acres — had already tempted 
the farmers from New England and the old States to leave 
their barren over-worked homesteads and take up the 
unfilled and more promising " sections" in the new States 
and Territories. Following in their tracks, came Norwe- 
gians, Swedes, Germans, and others to possess themselves 
21 



322 History of the United States. 

of the homes and property so lavishly offered. The Irish 
remained generally near the Atlantic coast, taking the 
places of the natives who had moved towards the setting 
sun. Wicked and worthless immigrants often sought a 
hiding-place in the large cities where they swelled the ranks 
of idleness and vice. 

Immigrants in the South. — Few of these foreigners came 
into the Southern States. The people of the South did not 
invite them. There was no public land there to be given to 
any who would occupy it. The negroes were sufficient for 
the cultivation of the soil and far better adapted to the 
climate, and the whites shrank from bringing into their 
midst the uncongenial elements from over the sea. Their 
ignorance of all things American, their inability to distin- 
guish between one State and another, and their want of in- 
terest or sympathy for the traditions of the past made them 
undesirable neighbors to men who loved their own States 
with a passionate devotion, and were willing to risk every- 
thing to preserve and defend them. Thus the heteroge- 
neous mass of foreign thought and feeling took possession 
of the Northwest, and greatly increased the divergence 
of feeling and interest between the two sections of the Re- 
public. 

Deaths of Clay and Webster, 1852. — Mr. Clay's long and 
patriotic life closed in its seventy-sixth year, in June, 1852. 
Mr. Webster survived him only until October 26th. Thus 
the " great trio," Calhoun, Clay, and Webster, passed away 
within two years. Their names are identified with all that 
was great and important in the national life of their period, 
and though they differed widely in opinions and action, 
each entertained a high respect and regard for the others. 
All were true patriots and great orators and wielded immense 
influence in the national councils. Calhoun was the most 
clear-headed and far-seeing statesman and of absolute pu- 
rity in his personal life. Clay was the apostle of national 
peace, who again and again sacrificed his hope of the Presi- 
dency to preserve the integrity of the Union by a series of 
compromises ; and Webster, cool and impassioned by turns, 
controlled his hearers and his party by the fervor and mag- 
netism of his words and presence with a power never since 
surpassed. 



Fillmoi'e's Administration. 323 

New Leaders. — Many of their colleagues still survived, 
and new men from all parts of the land were crowding into 
Congress. Prominent among them were Benton of Missouri, 
Houston of Texas, Bell of Tennessee, Hunter and Mason of 
Virginia, Chase of Ohio, Seward of New York, Douglas of 
Illinois, Sumner of Massachusetts, Toombs and Stephens of 
Georgia, Butler of South Carolina, C. C. Clay of Alabama, 
and Jefferson Davis of Mississippi. 

Election of Pierce, 1852. — When the presidential cam- 
paign came on in 1852, the " Fugitive Slave Law" — which 
provided for the return of a runaway slave by the State in 
which he was found to the State from which he came — was 
incorporated in the platform of both the Whig and Demo- 
cratic parties. This law was exceedingly obnoxious to the 
Northern States, where ultra Abolitionists were every day 
becoming stronger. General Scott was the nominee of the 
Whigs, but he refused to express any strong approval of the 
Whig platform, especially that part of it which endorsed the 
Fugitive Slave Law. The Democratic approval of the Com- 
promise measures of 1850 was not so strongly worded as that 
of the Whigs, but it was honest and explicit. Their candi- 
date, Franklin Pierce of New Hampshire, held the political 
opinions of the school of Jefferson, and planted himself 
fairly on the platform of the party. When the election 
came, the Democrats carried the country by an overwhelm- 
ing majority, with General Pierce for President and William 
R. King of Alabama for Vice-President. The Free Soil party 
also had candidates in the field, but polled fewer votes than 
at the preceding election four years before. 

AUTHORITIES— Schouler's History of the United States, Vols. IV., V.; Benton's 
Thirty Years in the Senate; McMaster's History of the American People, Vol. II.; 
Epochs of History ; Woodrow Wilson's Disunion and Reunion; Alexander Johnston's 
History and Constitution of the United States; Lalor's Cyclopedia of Political Sci- 
ence; Appleton's Encyclopedia; Memoir of Jefferson Davis ; Congressional Record. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. What two prominent men died in 1850? 2. Tell of the 
"irrepressible conflict." 3. When was California admitted to the Union? 
4. When was the corner stone of the wings of the Capitol laid ? 5. What 
reduction of postage was made? 6. Describe Grinnell's two Arctic expedi- 
tions. 7. The expedition to South America. 8. Perry's expedition to Japan, 
and its results. 9. What attempt was made on Cuba about this time? 
10. Describe the foreign immigration. 11. Where did most of the foreigners 
go? 12. Why did not some of them come to the South? 13. Tell of the 
three great statesmen who died in 1850 and 1852. 14. The great men still left 
or just coming forward. 15. Describe the campaign and election of 1852. 



CHAPTER LXI. 

PIERCE'S ADMINISTRATION. 

Pierce as President. — General Pierce who was inaugurated 
on March 4, 1853, had an earnest desire to harmonize tlie 
distractions of the country, and composed his Cabinet of 
leading statesmen from both the North and the South. 
During his first year of office a threatened difficulty with 
Mexico was settled by the purchase of the Mesilla Valley 
which has been mentioned before. Danger of trouble with 
England on account of the American fisheries was also 
averted by an agreement that both nations should be free to 
catch deep-sea fish in all American waters. 

Trouble With Austria. — A threatened collision with Aus- 
tria at this time attracted universal attention. A Hunga- 
gian revolutionist, Koszta by name, had escaped to America 
and signified his desire to become a citizen of the United 
States when the time necessary for him to become natural- 
ized should have passed. By this he placed himself under 
the protection of the government. He then went to Smyrna 
on the Mediterranean Sea, where he had some business and 
where he was recognized by Austrian detectives. Although 
he claimed the protection of the American consul at Smyrna, 
Koszta was seized and carried on board the Austrian war 
vessel Hussar, to be sent a prisoner to Austria. The Ameri- 
can war ship St. Louis, commanded by Captain Ingraham of 
South Carolina, was then in the harbor at Smyrna. Learn- 
ing that the Austrians paid no attention to the American 
protection of Koszta, Captain Ingraham demanded his re- 
lease and declared that, if he were not given up, the guns 
of the St. iom's would immediately fire upon the Austrian ves- 
sel. This argument of forty loaded cannon was so forcible 
that the Austrian commander delivered Koszta to the 
French consul to be kept in safety until the Austrian and 
United States governments should settle the matter. Austria 
felt much aggrieved, and her representative in Washington 
made a strong remonstrance against Ingraham's course, but 
our government sustained him. Congress gay© him a vote 

[324] 



Fillmore's Administration. 325 

of thanks and a medal. The civilized world felt that Austria 
had been in the wrong and that the United States had 
shown her intention and ability to defend all who had any 
claim on her protection. 

World's Fairs, 1851 and 1853.— The first of the great exhi- 
bitions of the industries and arts of all nations, The World's 
Fair, had taken place at London in 1851 under the patron- 
age and encouragement of Prince Albert, the husband of 
Queen Victoria. This Fair was held in the first large build- 
ing of iron and glass that had ever been erected. It proved 
a great success and was especially advantageous to the 
United States, as it brought into notice and use the many 
agricultural and domestic machines invented by her citi- 
zens. A similar exposition was held in New York in 1853, 
which was formally opened by President Pierce in the 
" Crystal Palace" built for the occasion. 

Routes to California. — For a while it looked as if the Com- 
promise of 1850 had really brought peace to the country, 
for when Congress met in December, 1853, it organized at 
once and seemed disposed to proceed quietly with its work. 
It was most desirable to have quicker and more direct inter- 
course with the vast rich country of the Pacific slope, than 
the long voyage around Cape Horn, or the tedious travel over 
the plains. Four surveys had been ordered during the pre- 
vious year to see whether a route could be found practicable 
for a railway from ocean to ocean. Several such routes were 
examined, and some time later than this Congress authorized 
that a railroad should be constructed. Before it could be 
ready for use, however, years must elapse, and in the mean 
time a railway was built across the Isthmus of Panama, 
which shortened the journey to California by several months 
and greatly lessened its expense. 

Personal Liberty Laws. — Events soon showed that the hope 
of peace and good-will in the country was not to be realized. 
That part of the " Omnibus Bill " known as the Fugitive Slave 
Law, was especially odious to the Abolitionists. For a time 
after its passage, they gave up contending in Congress and 
directed their efforts to getting a stronger hold on the pas- 
sions and prejudices of the people in the Northern States. 
Under their influence " Personal Liberty Laws," designed 
to contradict and render void the laws of Congress, were 



326 History of the United States. 

passed in many States which thus actually nullified the Con- 
stitution, as South Carolina had formerly attempted to do, 
A regular plan of assistance in the escape of slares, known 
as "the Underground Railroad," was organized in Penlisyl- 
vania and Ohio, and giving them up to their masters was 
resisted even to bloodshed. This was as plain a violation of 
the Constitution as Nullification had been. 

Kansas-Nebraska Bill, 1854. — Early in this year the most 
violent agitation which had hitherto convulsed Congress 
was begun by the introduction of what was known as the 
" Kansas-Nebraska " Bill. Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois 
who advocated it, took the ground that the legislation of 
1850 had done away with the restriction of slavery under 
the Missouri Compromise to territory south of 36° 80'; and 
this bill gave permission to the settlers in the territory to 
decide the question of slavery for themselves. Immediately 
a storm of indignation and abuse broke out in the North. 
Public meetings denouncing the bill were held in many 
places. Petitions and remonstrances against it were poured 
into Congress, and the orators and papers of the day de- 
clared that any destruction or dissension would be prefera- 
ble to its passage. In spite of all this demonstration, the 
House of Representatives, assured of the soundness of the 
bill, passed it on the 22d of May by a majority of thirteen, 
and the still more conservative Senate gave a vote of thirty- 
five in its favor to fourteen against it. You must bear in 
mind that at this time the Southern States were largely 
outnumbered in both Houses. 

Riot in Boston — "Kansas Bibles." — But the Northern peo- 
ple were resolved not to yield to laws distasteful to them, 
even when made by their own representatives. A few days 
after the passage of the hated bill, a United States marshal 
was shot in the streets of Boston for arresting a fugitive 
slave from Virginia, and' such resistance was made that 
United States troops had to be called out to protect the 
officers in executing the laws. This was only one of several 
similar outbreaks. Since the question of the ultimate free- 
dom of the new territory was to be settled by its residents, 
emigrants were hurried thither from all parts of the north 
and east, where societies were formed to furnish and send 
to Kansas all persons who would go prepared to resist any 



Fillmore's Administration. 327 

introduction of slavery. Collections were taken up in the 
churches to buy rifles, which were termed "Kansas Bibles," 
and ammunition for the fight which was beforehand deter- 
mined upon. The citizens of Missouri, who were slave- 
holders, felt that they had as much right to the country 
near them as any other settlers ; and they also moved into 
Kansas where they established several towns. Every man 
went heavily armed, and before long a civil war broke out 
attended with outrage and bloodshed. 

Reign of Terror in Kansas, 1855. — The thirty-fourth Con- 
gress, which met in December, was composed of men of 
such opposite opinions that it took two months to elect the 
speaker, N. P. Banks. A reign of terror had been established 
in Kansas. The supporters and opposers of slavery each held 
a convention, elected delegates to Congress and claimed to be 
the lawful governing power in the Territory. A committee 
sent by Congress to investigate the question declared that 
none of the contending parties had been lawfully elected ; 
but Congress and the President recognized the pro-slavery 
government as legal. 

John Brown at Ossawotomie, 1856. — Among the most 
fanatical of the Abolitionists in Kansas was John Brown 
from Massachusetts, who had gone thither to push the 
quarrel to the bloodiest extreme. He held that it was better 
to rend the Union asunder than to tolerate slavery, and he 
fought desperately against the Missourians at Ossawotomie, 
where he led a night attack on his pro-slavery neighbors, 
in which a number were killed. 

Brooks and Sumner, 1856. — Unhappily this strife in 
Kansas excited the passions of the whole country. Per- 
sistent abuse of the Southern people — their character, their 
motives, their actions — w^as kept up in public meetings, in 
books, and in many of the daily papers. Even in the 
Halls of Congress, calumny and libels of fellow-statesmen 
filled up many long harangues. Senator Sumner of Massa- 
chusetts was very abusive of Senator Butler of South Caro- 
lina, then absent from the Senate. Representative Brooks 
of South Carolina undertook to chastise Sumner, which he 
did with a small gutta-percha cane, breaking it over Sum- 
ner's head. It was 9, most unfortunate aflfair, and stimu- 
lated evil passions everywhere. 



328 History of the United States. 

Know-Nothing Party. — But there were other matters to 
interest the nation at this time. The rapid influx of for- 
eigners and the disagreements among the okl political par- 
ties had given rise to a new organization which called itself 
the American Party, but which gained the title of "Know- 
Nothing " from the secret oaths and passwords by which 
its members were admitted. Its distinctive principle was 
opposition to foreigners and Roman Catholics, who were not 
to be allowed to hold any office in the government. For a 
time this new party carried many of the local elections at 
the North. In the South, where there were few Roman 
Catholics or foreigners, but M'here the movement was opposed 
to the genius of the people, it made little headway. 

Republican Party. — Tlie Free Soil or Anti-Slavery Party 
also took a new name, becoming the Republican Party. 
Under this title it grew popular, especially among the for- 
eigners, who looked upon it as the opponent of tyranny and 
the advocate of freedom. This was not actually the case. 

Election of Buchanan, 1856. — When the election for Presi- 
dent came on in November there were three candidates: 
James Buchanan for the Democrats, Millard Fillmore for 
the Americans, and John C. Fremont for the Republicans. 
The Democrats declared that they would adhere to the Com- 
promise of 1850 and the legislation of 1854; the Republi- 
cans declared that Congress must prohibit both slavery and 
polygamy in the territories; while the Americans adhered 
to their proscription of Catholics and foreigners. Bucha- 
nan was elected by a very large majority, while the anti- 
slavery men under their new name had for the first time a 
respectable vote. The American ticket was very poorly sup- 
ported. 

Achievements of Science. — Before closing the record of 
this administration, I must tell you of some things done in 
the interest of science and for tlie welfare of the world at 
large. The sciences. Geology, Natural History, Astronomy, 
and Chemistry, had been much advanced by the researches 
of Silliman, Agassiz, Draper, and many of their co-laborers; 
and valuable additions had been made to the knowledge 
of the world. Chloroform and ether had either been dig- 
covered or brought into use for the relief of pain and the 
improvement of surgery. 




Fillmore's Administration. 329 

Maury and His Work. — But perhaps the greatest benefit 
conferred upon the age had been effected by a naval officer, 
Matthew F. Maury, appointed to the s^^""*^-. 

Navy from Tennessee. In spite of the 
limited education acquired in his youth 
at an "old field" school, Maury bent all 
his energies to the study of Astronomy, 
Navigation, and whatever could improve 
him in his profession. Finding the sail- 
ing charts in use very inaccurate and the 
knowledge of the winds and the currents 
of the ocean very small, lie conceived 
the idea of making reliable charts of the maury. 

winds and currents. For this end he examined the great 
collection of log-books in the Naval Department, and from 
their Reports published his first Chart of the best route to 
Rio Janeiro in South America. This proved so successful 
that Congress took the matter up and authorized Maury to 
collect information from all American captains, who were 
requested to take notes every day in books furnished for the 
purpose, of the winds, the currents in the sea, and all the 
phenomena of the air and water, wherever they might be, 
and forward them all to Lieutenant Maury at Washington. 
They were also required to throw bottles into the sea con- 
taining statements of both the name and the place of their 
ships, and these, picked up on the shore, indicated the cur- 
rents. The information thus obtained was carefully collated 
by Maury and a corps of young officers working under him, 
and maps of the winds and currents were made, by which 
ships might sail with greater safety all over the world. 
These improved sailing directions were welcomed by all the 
maritime nations. They were estimated to save from 
$40,000,000 to $60,000,000 annually in the cost of commer- 
cial voyages, and to lessen the loss of life by thousands. 

Brussels Congress, 1853. — Officers of the United States 
are not allowed to receive presents from foreign govern- 
ments, but orders of knighthood, medals, and testimonials 
were showered upon the " Geographer of the Sea" by the 
crowned heads of Europe and by Scientific and Philosoph- 
ical Societies everywhere. In 1853 Maury attended a Sci- 
entific Congress assembled at Brussels in response to his 



330 



History of the United States. 



appeals, where the leading nations of Europe agreed to co- 
operate in carrying on the investigations which he had so 
successfully begun. 

Weather Reports. — The benefits arising from studying 
the winds at sea led Maury to urge that similar observations 
be carried on all over the land ; and out of these sugges- 
tions, which were also advocated by other scientific men, 
has grown up the great system of " weather reports " as we 
have it at this day. 

Maury and the Submarine Telegraph. — To Maury also 
we owe the network of submarine telegraphs which so 

nearly encircle the world. 



\ 




BEOOKE'S DEEP-SEA SOUNDING APPAEATUS. 



His investigations led him 
to believe that there was a 
plateau under the ocean be- 
tween Newfoundland and 
Ireland. Congress sent ves- 
sels to make soundings over 
the route. They could ascer- 
tain the comparative shal- 
lowness of the ocean but 
not the character of its bed. 
This difficulty was obviated 
by a " deep-sea sounding 
apparatus" invented by 
John Mercer Brooke of Vir- 
ginia, which brought up specimens of the materials lying 
at the bottom of the sea. The plateau was found to be cov- 
ered with minute shells so small and delicate that any cur- 
rents or moving animals would have ground them to powder. 
Here then was the place where a telegraphic cable could lie 
without danger of injury. Two years after this, in 1858, 
when the first submarine message had passed between 
Europe and America, Cyrus Field, by whose energy the 
cable had been laid, gave the credit where it was due. 
" Maury," said he at the banquet in New York, " furnished 
the brains, England gave the money, and I did the work." 
The United States, for whose commerce and scientific repu- 
tation he did so much, has never given proper recognition 
or reward to Maury's admirable and important work. 



Fillmore's Administration. 331 

AUTHORITIES.— Schouler's History of the United States, Vols. IV., V.; Benton's 
Tiiirty Years in tlie Senate; MeMaster's History of tlie American People, Vol. II.; 
Epochs of History; Woodrow Wilson's Disunion and Reunion; Alexander Johnston's 
History and Constitution of the United States; Lalor's Cyclopedia of Political Sci- 
ence; Appletou's Encyclopedia; Memoir of Matthew F. Maury by his daughter, Mrs. 
Corbin. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. Tell of Pierce as President. 2. What trouble arose with 
Austria, aud how was it settled':* 8. Describe the World's Fairs of 1851 aud 
1853. 4. The different routes to (-alifornia. 5. What was the attitude of the 
Abolitionists at this time':' 6. What was the "Underground Railroad':"' 

7. What was the Kansas-Neljraska Bill and its reception b'y the country ? 

8. Describe the excitement in Boston and elsewhere. 9. What did the Missou- 
rians do '? 10. Tell of the " reign of terror " in Kansas and John Brown's part 
in it. 11. Relate the mcident of Brooks and Sumner. 12. What was the 
Know-Nothing Party? the Republican Party? 13. Who were candidates for 
the Presidency in 1856 ? 14. Mention some achievements of science. 15. Tell 
of Maury and his great work. 16. The Brussels Congress. 17. The weather 
reports. 18. The submarine telegraph. 



CHAPTER LXII. 

B UCHA NA jY ' 8 A DMINIS TR A TION. 

Buchanan Becomes President. — James Buchanan became 
the fifteenth President, on March 4, 1857. In his inaugural 
address he approved the principles of the Kansas-Nebraska 
Bill as being constitutional and as old as free government 
itself. His administration was one of anxiety and turmoil, 
arising from difficulties with the Mormons in Utah and the 
dissensions between the North and the South, which were 
daily becoming more violent. 

The Mormons. — The Mormons are a strange, half-heathen 
sect, which was founded in New York by Joseph Smith in 
1830. Smith pretended to have a revelation from heaven 
and to have found gold plates buried in the ground on which 
the " Book of Mormon " was inscribed. The new pro})het 
and his religion attracted followers, and the Mormons, or 
"Latter-Day Saints" as they called themselves, grew in 
numbers. They settled first in Ohio, then in Missouri; but 
were forced to move by the hostility of their neighbors. 
They then went to Nauvoo in Illinois where they laid 
the foundations for a splendid temple and became very 
flourishing. 

The Land of the Honey Bee.— In 1843 Smith said that he 
had a revelation telling him that Mormon men could marry 
as many wives as they chose and that women had no souls 
until they were married. This doctrine and practice excited 
the surrounding people, who rose against the Mormons and 
drove them from Nauvoo. Smith was shot in one of the 
riots, and the leadership fell to Brigham Young, a strong, 
resolute, capable man. Finding no rest for his followers 
east of the Mississippi, Young led the whole band consist- 
ing of about 20,000 persons from place to place, until at last 
they fixed themselves near the Great Salt Lake. This re- 
gion which then belonged to Mexico was called by the new- 
comers " Deseret," " The Land of the Honey Bee," but is 
known to us as Utah. It is blessed with a fine climate and 
has fertile valleys interspersed with sandy desert tracts. Here 

[ 333 1 



334 History of the United States. 

the Mormons, unmolested by neighbors, became once more 
very flourishing. 

Difficulty with the Mormons, 1857. — In 1850 the Territory 
of Utah was organized by the " Omnibus Bill," as has been 
told you, and Brigham Young was appointed governor. 
The principles and habits of the Mormons were not at all 
those of the other American citizens. Polygamy especially 
was contrary to the laws of the land and difficulties fre- 
quently arose between the National and Mormon authori- 
ties. Young took such active part in driving from Utah the 
United States officials, that President Buchanan removed 
him and sent 1,700 troops under Colonel Albert Sidney 
Johnston, to protect American citizens and compel the Mor- 
mons to yield to the United States authority. Colonel John- 
ston and his little army underwent great hardships and 
suffered many privations, but they accomplished so well the 
object for which they were sent that Brigham Young at one 
time thought of conducting his people still farther into the 
western wilds. Colonel Johnston advised the President to 
insist on the absolute submission of the Mormons, but Mr. 
Buchanan sent out commissioners who patched up a peace 
which was only observed so long as the troops remained. 
From that time until his death, Brigham Young was the 
chief authority among the Mormons, no matter who was the 
nominal governor. Salt Lake City is a large and handsome 
town. Strenuous laws have been enforced against the Mor- 
mons by the United States Government, which have done 
much to check the evils of this so-called religion, and Utah 
has not been permitted to become a State. 

Dred Scott Decision, 1856. — The political and sectional 
strife in the land was not, however, to be quieted. The 
Supreme Court, the highest legal authority under the Con- 
stitution, made its celebrated decision in the Dred Scott case 
late in 1856. Scott and his family had been carried by his 
master into a territory north of 36° 30' — free under the 
Missouri Compromise — and he had then been taken back to 
Missouri as a slave. He claimed his freedom on the ground 
that he became free by being taken to a free Territory. The 
Missouri Courts sustained him, but the Supreme Court 
reversed their decree, and declared that the Missouri Com- 
promise itself had been contrary to the Constitution, that 



Buchanan's Administration. 335 

the Territories were the common property of all the States, 
and that the government was bound to protect slave property 
there as much as houses and lands. That party at the 
North which favored abolition was furious at thus being 
placed in the wrong, and threats and denunciations were 
heard on all sides. The Southern people were of course 
pleased that the opinion of their great statesman Calhoun, 
that Congress was bound to protect their rights in the terri- 
tories, was thus confirmed by the Supreme Court. But the 
breach was widened not healed by the decision, and sectional 
strife grew more violent all through Buchanan's administra- 
tion. 

Struggle Over Kansas. — The thirty-fifth Congress which 
met in December organized promptly with Orr of South 
Carolina as Speaker. The struggle still went on over the 
admission of Kansas as a slave-holding State. The pro- 
slavery party had held a convention at Lecompton, had 
agreed upon a constitution allowing slavery, and now 
applied for admission as a State. The settlement of the 
question was postponed for several years ; but it had already 
occasioned a split in the Democratic party, disastrous in its 
consequences. 

A Year of Notable Events, 1859. — This year is memora- 
ble for the admission of Oregon as a State ; for the death of 
Washington Irving, the distinguished author who wrote the 
first American books which ever won a European reputa- 
tion ; for the most virulent denunciation of the South ever 
yet made ; and for the first armed effort against the peace 
and life of her citizens. 

"Uncle Tom's Cabin." — One of the most potent causes for 
this outburst of evil passions was a book written by Mrs. 
Harriet Beecher Stowe of Connecticut, called " Uncle Tom's 
Cabin." Mrs. Stowe had never been South nor seen slavery 
and slave-owners as they really were, but she was a violent 
Abolitionist, and she wrote for an anti-slavery newspaper a 
story founded upon isolated cases of cruelty and crime picked 
up from other papers. " Uncle Tom's Cabin " supplied at 
once a reason and a justification of the intolerance of the 
Abolitionists, and seemed to give a sort of sacredness to 
their opposition to the Constitution, to the laws of the land, 
and the decrees of the Supreme Court. Passion and preju- 



336 History of the United States. 

dice overrode allegiance to the government. In vain the 
South denied the slanders given broadcast to the world. 
" Uncle Tom " was republished in England ; it was trans- 
lated into the European languages, and its caricatures of 
Southern life were multiplied a thousand-fold by abolition 
energy and fanaticism. When Mrs. Stowe was pressed to 
give her authority for the account she gave of the Kentucky 
and Louisiana planters, she published "A Key" which 
showed among the millions of slave-holders and their 
negroes, how few were the instances of wickedness such 
as she gave to the world as the habitual daily life of the 
broad South. The book aroused universal indignation at 
the South ; but the overdrawn statements had won the ear 
of the civilized world, which refused to hear the South in 
her own defence. 

Helper's Manifesto.— While the public mind was thus 
stirred, another publication endorsed by the Speaker of the 
House of Representatives, and by sixty-four of the leading 
Republicans in the House and Senate showed what 
measures their party was determined to enforce against the 
South. This Manifesto, written by Hinton Helper of North 
Carolina and circulated by hundreds of thousands, threat- 
ened the Southern people with fierce punishment. Their 
noble men and women were to be visited with proscription 
and spoliation. None of them were to be allowed to hold 
office. They were not to be countenanced in society or the 
church, and were to receive no encouragement nor pay for 
any service whatever. They must be required not only to 
free their slaves, but, after thus beggaring themselves, must 
give each negro sixty dollars. And if they dared to defend 
themselves against such a scheme, they must pay for it with 
their lives. Could fifteen sovereign, independent States be 
expected quietly to submit to the tyranny and subjugation 
fore-shadowed in this publication ! And yet, the leaders 
of the North, Messrs. Seward, Chase, Greeley, Colfax, and 
their coadjutors endorsed Helper's book, 

John Brown's Raid, 1859. — These threats were followed in 
October by what is known as " John Brown's Raid." John 
Brown, the fanatic whom we have seen busy in the troubles 
in Kansas, conceived the idea that the negroes only wanted 
opportunity and encouragement to rise and massacre their 



Buchanan's Administration. 337 

masters ; and he laid a plan to afford them this help. 
Strange to say, his purpose was known by a number of 
respectable Abolitionists of the North, who not only did 
nothing to hinder his wicked design, but actually con- 
tributed large sums of money to purchase arms to render it 
effectual. The newspapers of the day even averred that 
Seward, Sumner, Giddings, and Chase were aware of the 
existence of some such plot. Harper's Ferry where there 
was a large United States armory was the point chosen for 
attack. Brown established himself in a cabin in the Mary- 
land mountains, where he collected hundreds of rifles and 
pistols, ammunition, clothing, and 1,500 -pikes, made for 
him in Ohio, which he intended distributing among the 
slaves who should rise at his summons. His party con- 
sisted of himself, three sons, and thirteen other white men 
from the Northern States and Canada, and five negroes from 
the North. With this force he entered Harper's Ferry and 
took possession of the armory on Sunday night, October 
16th, when there were no workmen in the building ; he also 
captured the watchman on the great railroad bridge. The 
plan was, after taking possession of the armory to capture 
prominent men ; to rouse the negroes to take up arms 
against their masters, and by terrifying the white Virgin- 
ians and getting help from sympathizing Northern men, to 
free the slaves first in Virginia and then throughout the 
South. As soon therefore as they had taken the armory, 
some of the party visited the large houses and plantations 
in the vicinity, carrying off their owners, the slaves, horses, 
carriages, and wagons. In a short time they had sixty 
prisoners. But the negroes did not come to their assistance 
as they had expected, and in their disappointment they began 
to murder helpless and unsuspecting people. Their first 
victim was a negro in the railroad employ whom they shot 
for refusing to join them. The mayor of the town and 
other citizens of the neighborhood were also killed. 

Capture and Hanging of Brown. — As soon as the news of 
the outrage spread, the men in the surrounding country 
assembled, and an attack was made upon Brown and his 
party. Some of them escaped to the mountains, the others 
shut themselves up in an engine-house which was very 
strong and from which they could fire at their assailants 
22 



338 History of the United States. 

without being exposed. The men outside were deterred 
from a forcible attack on the engine-house by the fear of 
injuring their fellow-citizens who were within it, as pris- 
oners. By nightfall about a thousand men had reached the 
Ferry; and Colonel Robert E. Lee, sent from Washington to 
put down the raid, had arrived in command of 100 United 
States troops. Colonel Lee surrounded the engine-house 
and summoned Brown to surrender. Brown refused to do 
so, unless he and his men were permitted to go out unharmed 
and carry all their prisoners into Pennsylvania. Colonel 
Lee then ordered the building to be carried by assault and 
after a short time this was done. The doors were burst 
open and the soldiers marched in. One of them was killed 
and others wounded. Brown and his sons fought like tigers. 
The old man was wounded; one of his sons was killed and 
another mortally wounded. At last the insurgents were 
overcome. Fifteen of them were slain in the various fights 
with the citizens and soldiers. Two escaped to Pennsyl- 
vania but were captured and sent back to Virginia; and five 
were taken in the engine-house and turned over to the 
authorities of the State of Virginia. They were put in jail 
at Charlestown, the county-seat, and given a fair and impar- 
tial trial. Two of the ablest lawyers of Virginia and one 
from Boston served as Brown's counsel, and the Honorable 
D. W. Voorhees from Indiana defended Cook, one of Brown's 
accomplices. But the charges brouglit against them of 
treason, murder, and inciting the slaves to insurrection were 
so absolutely proven that only death by hanging could be 
awarded them. Brown continued fierce and vindictive to 
the last. He was hanged on December 2d, and four of his 
accomplices met the same fate on December 16th. 

Sympathy with John Brown at the North. — You would 
suppose that this outrage upon one State would be severely 
blamed by all the others. On the contrary, the Abolition 
party of the North was full of praise and sympathy for 
Brown, who was compared to the Saviour dying for his peo- 
ple; while Governor Wise of Virginia was likened to Pon- 
tius Pilate, for allowing law and right to be vindicated. 
They clamored for the pardon of the fanatic who had striven 
to carry murder and outrage into thousands of homes. So 
many threats were made of a rescue that a large number of 



Buchanan's Administration, < 339 

Virginia volunteers were assembled to guard the jail and the 
gallows until the execution was over. In some of the North- 
ern cities funeral guns were fired and bells tolled in honor of 
the murderer, churches held services in which he was 
extolled as a martyr, and meetings to glorify him and pro- 
vide aid for his family were numerous. 

AUTHORITIES.— Schouler's History of the United States, VoI.V. ; Memoir of Albert 
Sidney Johnston, by his son ; Congressional Record, Johnston's History and Consti- 
tution of the United States; Von Hoist's Constitutional History of Uie thiited States. 
Vols VI., VII.; Rhode's History of the United States, Vol. II.; S S. Cox s Tliree 
Decades of Constitutional LeRislation; Lalor's Cyclopedia; Appleton s Encyclo- 
pedia; Ridi)ath's Popular History of the United States; Stephens's War between tlie 
States; Woodrow Wilson's Division and Reunion. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. Who became President in 1857 ? 2. Relate the origin of 
the Mormons. 3. Their wanderings and final settlement. 4. What dithculty 
did the government have with them in 1857 ? 5. Has Utah been allowed to 
become a State ? 6. What celebrated case came up before tlie Supreme Court 
in 1856 ? 7. How was it decided ? 8. Tell of the struggle in Kansa-s. 9. What 
four events of 1859 are next mentioned ? 10. Tell of the effect produced by 
" Uncle Tom's Cabin." 11. AVhat was Hintou Helper's plan for the South? 
12. Tell of John Brown's raid. 18. His capture and execution. 14. How did 
the Abolitionists consider John Brown ? 15. Look up all the places men- 
tioned. 



SUMMARY FOR REVIEWS AND ESSAYS. 



UNDER THE CONSTITUTION, 1783-1861. 
Chapters 42-62. 



The Couutry under the Confederation : 

The country after the Revohition, 233. 

Congress helpless, 333. 

Confederation of 1774, 234. 

Generosity of Virginia, 234. 

How to raise money ? 285. 

First tariff, 1784, 235. 

Distracted condition of the country, 235. 

Shays's insurrection 1787, 236. 

Annapolis convention, 1786, 236, 

" The Cincinnati," 236. 

Work of the Continental Congress, 242. 

Spanish claims, 242. 

Northwest territory to be free from slavery, 243. 

Treaties with the Indians, 1787, 243. 

Settling the West, 243. 

Fitch's and Rumsey's steamboats, 1787, 244. 

Making the Constitution : 

The Federal CJonvention, 1787, 237. 

Members of the Convention, 238. 

Meeting of the C'onventiou with closed doors, 238. 

First compromise, 239. 

Negro repi'esentation, 239. 

Second compromise, 240. 

Abolitk)n of the slave-trade opposed, 240. 

Other regulations, 240. 

Fifteen amendments, 241. 

Ratification of the Constitution, 241. 

Washington's Administration, 1789-1797 : 

Beginning of constitutional government, 1789, 244. 

Washington the first President, 244. 

Washington's inauguration, 1789, 245. 

First Federal Congress, 246. 

Providing a revenue, 247. 

Protective tariff, 247. 

Tax on slaves, 247. 

Thanksgiving day, 1789, 248. 

^Hamilton's financial policy, 1790, 248. 

Petition of the Quakers to abolish slavery, 248. 

Site for the National Capital, 249. 

Cession of West North Carolina, 249. 

Vermont and Kentucky admitted to the Union, 1791 and 1792, 249. 

Tours of Washington, 249. 

First census of the United States, 1790, 250. 

St. Clair's defeat, 250. 

[ 340 1 



Summary for Revieivs and Essays. 341 

Washington's Administration, 1789-1797 — Continued: 
Second Congress, 1791, 351. 
Aaron Burr, 251. 

Re-election of Washington and Adams, 1793, 251. 
Threatened war, 851. 
Sympathy with France, 253. 
Citizen Genet, 253. 

American sliips stopped by the British, 253. 
Jay's treaty, 353. 
Navy; Indian war, 1794, 253. 
Whisliey insurrection, 1794, 253. 
Washington's Farewell to the People, 179G, 354. 
Death of Washington, 1799, 354. 

Adams's Administration, 1797-1801 : 
Election of John Adams, 354. 
Administration of Adams, 355. 
Threatened trouble with France, 355. 
Alien and sedition laws, 355. 

Progress of the country; Tennessee admitted to the Union, 179(5, 356. 
Increase of population, 356. 
French refugees from Hayti, 257. 
Yellow fever in Philadelphia and New York, 257. 
Material development, 257. 
Whitney's cotton gin, 358. 

Removal of the Government to Washington, 1800, 358. 
Lotteries, 259. 

Education and literature, 359. 
Increase in the churches, 359. 

Jefferson's Administration, 1801-1809: 
Jefferson's election, 1800, 361, 
His republican simplicity, 361. 
Jefferson's Cabinet, 261. 
War with Tripoli, 1803, 263. 
Decatur and the Philadelphia, 263. 
Purchase of Louisiana, 1803, 363. 
Lewis and Clarke's explorations, 1804, 263. 
New England opposed to the Louisiana purchase, 363. 
Duel of Hamilton and Burr, 363. 
Burr's conspiracy, 1805, 364. 
Commercial troubles, 264. 

Extinction of the slave-trade; purchase of Indian lands, 265. 
Ohio admitted to the Union, 1802, 366. 
Fulton's steamboat, 1807, 366. 

Madison's Administration, 1809-1817: 
Madison's election, 1809, 365. 
Madison's administration, 1809-1817, 366. 
Tecumseh, 1811, 367. 
Battle of Tippecanoe, 1811, 367. 
Increase of the army, 267. 
War declared against England, 1813, 368. 
Engagements on land and sea, 368. 
Raisin River, 1813, 369. 
The Chesapeake captured, 369. 
Battle of Lake Erie, 1813, 269. 



342 History of the United States. 

Madison's Administration, 1809-1817 — Continued: 
Battle of the Tliames, 1813, 270. 
Fort Mimms, Alabama, 1813, 271. 
Horseshoe Bend, 1813, 271. 
Chippewa and Lundy's Lane, 1814, 271. 
British in Chesapeake Bay, 271. 
Burning of Washington, 1814, 272. 
" The Star Spangled Banner." 272. 
McDonough 3 victory, 1814, 272. 
General Andrew Jackson fortifies New Orleans, 272. 
Battle of New Orleans. 1815, 273. 
Hartford Convention, 1814, 274. 
Barbary States chastised, 1815, 274. 

Louisiana and Indiana admitted to the Union, 1812 and 1815, 275. 
Southern generals, 275. 

Monroe's Administration, 1817-1825- 
Monroe's election, 1817, 276. 
"Era of good feeling," 27(5. 
Pirates and Indians on the southern border, 276. 
Jackson's popularity, 277. 
Cession of Florida, 1819, 277. 
Growth and prosperity; admission of Mississippi, 1817; Illinois. 1818; 

Alabama, 1819, 278. 
Establishment of the University of Virginia, 1819, 265. 
Sectional hostility, 1820, 278. 
Southern view of slavery, 279. 
Slavery guaranteed by the Constitution, 280. 
Question of Missouri, 280. 
Missouri and Maine, 280. 

Missouri C'onipromise ; admission of Maine, 1820; Missouri, 1821, 281. 
Monroe Doctrine, 282. 
Lake and ocean steamers, 282. 
La Fayette's visit, 1824, 282. 

John Quincy Adams's Administration, 1825-1829: 
Election of John Quincy Adams, 1825, 283. 
Erie canal, 1825, 283. 
Removal of the Cherokees, 1826, 283. 
Death of Jefferson and John Adams, 1826, 284. 
" Bill of abominations," 284„ 

Jackson's Administration, 1829-1837 . 
Election of Jackson, 1828, 285. 
Party conventions, 285. 
Jackson and the " American System," 286. 
Nullification debate, 1839, 286. 
Troubles in the Cabinet, 287. 
Ordinance of Nullification passed, 1832, 287 
Tariff compromise, 288. 
Jackson and the United States Bank, 288. 
Continued agitation of the slavery question, 289. 
Efforts for peace, 290. 
Nat Turner's insurrection, 1831, 290. 
Increase of petitions, 290. 
Opening of railroads. 291. 
Black Hawk war, 1832, 291. 



Summary for Rcvieios and Essays. 343 

Jackson's Administration, 1829-183'? — Continued: 
Cholera aud other events, 1832-1836, 391. 
Texas settled ; the Alamo, 300. 
Massacre of Goliad, 183(5, 301. 
Battle of Sau Jacinto, 1836, 303. 
Florida war, 393. 
Foreign relations, 293. 
Jackson's farewell, 293. 
Arkansas admitted to the Union, 1836; Michigan. 1837, 293. 

Van Buren's Administration, 1837-1841 : 
Van Buren's election. 1836, 394. 
Financial crash of 1837, 394. 
United States Treasury, 295. 
Canadian insurrection, 395. 
State Rights resolutions, 1838. 295. 
Abberton's resolutions, 296. 
Steamships. 1838. 296. 
Wilkes's expedition, 296. 
Smithsonian Institute, 296. 
Election of Harrison, 1840, 397. 

Tyler's Administration, 1841-1845 : 
Death of llarilson, 1841, 297. 
Tyler becomes President, 1841, 298. 
Mr. Tyler's vetoes, 299. 
Dorr's rebellion, 299. 

John Quiucy Adams and the petitions. 299. 
C^atastrophe on the Princeton, 1844. 300. 
Telegraph ; treaty with China. 1844. 300. 
Oregon question, 300. 
Annexation of Texas. 1845. 303. 
Admission of Florida, 1845, 303. 

Polk's Administration, 1845-1849: 
"Army of Occupation," 303. 
Acts of Congress, 1845. 304. 
Beginning of the Mexican War, 1840. 304. 
Battle of Palo Alto. 1840, 304. 
Three armies sent to Mexico, 305. 
Capture of Monterey. 1846, 305. 
Fremont's capture of California. 1846. 305. 
Doniphan's march, 307. 
Santa Anna's return. 307. 
Battle of Buena Vista, 1847, 307. 
Surrender of Vera Cruz, 1847, 309. 
Cerro Gordo, 309. 
Advance on Mexico, 310. 
Chapultepec, 1847, 310. 
Capture of Mexico, 1847, 310. 
Peace, 1848, 311. 

Discovery of gold in California, 1848, 311. 
Vigilance committees, 313. 
Iowa, 1840, and Wisconsin, 1848, admitted to the Union, 313. 

Taylor's Administration, 1849-1850: 
Progress of the country, 313. 
Population and industries, 313. 



344 History of the United States. 

Taylor's Administration, 1849-1850 — ConUimed: 
Schools and churches, 314. 
Moral unrest, 314. 
The slavery question, 314. 
Difficulty of freeing the slaves, 315. 
Wilmot Proviso, 315. 
The South and the Territories, 316. 
Constitutional rights, 316. 
Strife in Congress, 317. 
" Omnibus Bill," 317. 

Debate between Calhoun and Webster, 1850, 318 
Death of Calhoun and Taylor, 31^). 

Fillmore's Administration, 1850-1853: 
Death of Calhoun and Taylor, 319. 
The " irrepressible conflict," 319. 
The Capitol, 330. 
Reduction of postage, 320. 
Griimell Arctic expeditions, 1850, 1854, 320. 
Perry's expedition to Japan, 1852, 320. 
Lopez's attempt to seize Cuba, 321. 
Foreign immigration, 321. 
Immigrants in the Northwest, 321. 
Immigrants in the South, 323. 
Deaths of Clay and Webster, 1852, 322. 
New leaders, 323. 
Election of Pierce, 1852, 323. 

Pierce's Administration, 1853-1857: 
Election of Pierce, 1852, 323. 
Pierce as President, 324. 
Trouble with Austria, 324. 
World's Fairs, 1851 and 1853, 325. 
Routes to California, 325. 
Personal liberty laws, 335. 
Kansas-Nebraska Bill, 1854, 326. 
Riot in Boston ; " Kansas Bibles," 1854, 336. 
Reign of terror in Kansas, 1855, 327. 
John Brown at Ossawotomie, 1856, 327. 
Brooks and Sumner, 1856, 327. 
Know-Nothing party, 338. 
Republican party, 338. 
Election of Buchanan, 1856, 338. 

Buchanan's Administration, 1857-1861 : 
Election of Buchanan, 1856, 338. 
Achievements of science, 328. 
Maury and his work, 329. 
Brussels Congress, 1853, 320. 
Weather reports, 330. 
Maury and the submarine telegraph, 330. 
Buchanan becomes President, 333. 
The Mormons, 333. 
The Land of the Honey Bee, 333. 
Difficulty with the Mormons, 1857, 334. 
Dred Scott decision, 334. 
Struggle over Kansas, 335. 
A year of notable events, 1859, 335. 



Summary for Reviews and Essays. 345 

Buchanan's Administration, 1857-1861 — Continued: 
" Uncle Tom's Cabin," 335. 
Helper's manifesto, 33(5. 
John Brown's raid 1859, 336. 
Capture and lianging of Brown, 337. 
Sympathy witii John Brown at the North, 338. 

The Slavery Question under the Constitution : 
Negro representation, 239. 
Second compromise, 240. 
Abolition of the slave-trade opposed, 240. 
Northwest Territory to be free from slavery, 243. 
Tax on slaves, 247. 

Petition of the Quakers to abolish slavery, 248. 
Cession of West North Carolina, 249. 
Whitney's cotton gin, 258. 
Extinction of the slave-trade, 265. 
Sectional hostility, 278. 
Southern view of slaverj% 279. 
Slavery guaranteed by the CJonstitution, 280. 
Question of Missouri, 280. 
Missouri and Maine, 280. 
Missouri Compromise; admission of Maine, 1820, and of Missouri, 1821, 

281. 
Continued agitation of the slavery question, 289. 
Efforts for peace, 290. 
Nat Turner's Insurrection, 1831, 290. 
Increase of petitions, 290. 
State Ilights resolutions, 1838, 395. 
Abberton's resolutions, 296. 
John Quincy Adams and the petitions, 299. 
Annexation of Texas, 1845, 302. 
The slavery question, 314. 
Dilficulty of freeing the slaves, 315. 
Wilmot Proviso, 315. 
The South and the Territories, 316. 
Constitutional rights, 316. 
Strife in Congress, 317. 
"Omnibus Bill," 317. 

Debate between CJalhouu and Webster, 318. 
The " irrepressible conflict," 319. 
Election of Pierce, 1852, 323. 
Personal liberty laws, 325. 
Kansas-Ne))raska Bill, 326. 
Riot in Boston ; " Kansas Bibles," 1854. 326. 
Reign of terror in Kansas, 1855, 327. 
John Brown at Ossawotomie, 1856, 327. 
Brooks and Sumner, 1856, 327. 
Republican party, 328. 
Dred Scott decision, 1856, 334. 
Struggle over Kansas, 335. 
A year of notable events, 1859, 335. 
"Uncle Tom's Cabin," 335. 
Helper's manifesto, 336. 
John Brown's raid, 1859, 336. 
Capture and hanging of Brown, 337. 
Sympathy with John Brown at the North, 338^ 



CIVIL WAR AND RECONSTRUCTION, I86I-IS95. 



CHAPTER LXIII. 

FORMATION OF THE CONFEDERACY. 

EflFects of John Brown's Raid, 1859. — The secrecy with 
which John Brown's operations had been carried on alarmed 
the whole South, for none knew where he might have ac- 
complices at work. To defend their homes and States from 
similar outrage, volunteer companies of soldiers were organ- 
ized throughout the South, who proceeded to familiarize 
themselves with military discipline and the use of arms. 
Congress instituted an inquiry into the case. The more 
conservative of the Northern members condemned the raid 
in unqualified terms; but it was evident that very many of 
their colleagues had strong sympathy with Brown and his 
determination to do away with slaverj'^, though they would 
not go so far as openly to approve his methods. 

Davis's Resolutions, 1860. — Early in this year, Mr. Jeffer- 
son Davis, of Mississippi, introduced in the Senate a set of 
resolutions defining the views of the South. These declared 
that the Constitution had been adopted by the States as in- 
dependent sovereignties; that it recognized slavery as an 
important element of power at the South; that each State 
and its citizens had equal rights in the territories, which the 
Senate was bound to protect, and with which neither Con- 
gress nor the legislature of a territory had any power to in- 
terfere; that when the Territory became a State, its people 
should decide whether they would countenance or prohibit 
slavery; and that the constitutional provision for restoring 
fugitive slaves to their owners, which had been again and 
again confirmed by Congress, ought to be faitlifully observed 
and obeyed. These resolutions passed the Senate by a large 
majority, though some of the Senators maintained that the 
Constitution did not sanction slavery and that there were no 
rights in the territories for slave-owners. This last question 
had come to be the issue between the two sections of the country, 

[346] 



Formation of the Confederacy. 347 

Election in 1860. — Another presidential election came on 
during the fall. The Democratic convention was held in 
Charleston, South Carolina. Had it been united, it might 
have prolonged the peace of the country for four years more. 
But the Northern delegates, under the lead of Stephen A. 
Douglas, could not agree to the Southern views, and the con- 
vention after much discussion divided into two bodies. The 
Northern Democrats nominated Douglas and Johnson; the 
Southern State Rights men nominated John C. Breckinridge 
of Kentucky and Joseph Lane of Oregon; the "American 
Party " nominated John Bell of Tennessee and Edward 
Everett of Massachusetts. Against these three sets of can- 
didates were the Republican nominees, Abraham Lincoln of 
Illinois and Hannibal Hamlin of Maine, who represented 
and endorsed the ultra Republican doctrines that the South 
had no right to carry slavery into the Territories, and that a 
tariff for the protection of Northern manufactures must be 
enacted. This Republican ticket had the majority in the 
Electoral College, although the popular majority was nearly 
a million against it. Only sixteen of the thirty-three States 
voted for it, and not one of these was south of Mason and 
Dixon's Line, or the Ohio River. For the first time since 
the formation of the Union, there was to be a sectional Pres- 
ident, representing a sectional party. 

Abraham Lincoln, 1860. — Abraham Lincoln was in his 
fifty-first year. He was of obscure parentage and had re- 
ceived few advantages of education. His appearance was 
uncouth and manners awkward, but he was a man of much 
ability, of strong character, and honest convictions. Shrewd 
and humorous, outspoken and fearless, a forcible speaker 
with a great store of anecdotes, he was well fitted to be the 
successful leader of his party. His political ambition was 
great. He was at first a Whig, but had been drawn into the 
Republican ranks by his opposition to slavery and by his 
doctrine that the Union was older than the States and the 
Constitution made by them. He had striven to remedy the 
defects of his education by studying a few books, mainly 
the Bible, Shakspeare, and Euclid. The first two gave him 
a use of vigorous English, while the mathematics trained 
him to close and logical thinking. He had served in Con- 
gress from niinois and had aspired to the Senate. In a 



848 



History of the United States. 



speech in 1858, he had spoken of the Union as a " house 
divided against itself" which could not stand, and pre- 
dicted that it must become all free or all slave-holding. 

Necessity of Secession. — The threats and denunciations 
against the South uttered in Congress, throughout the North, 
and in the publications of the day, convinced the Southern 
States that their only hope for retaining their rights and 





ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 



independence was to reclaim the powers they had yielded to 
the Federal Government in acceding to the Constitution. 
They saw that that Constitution had been openly and boast- 
ingly violated by the Northern States, and they felt it their 
right and their duty to withdraw from the Union. General 
Washington in his "Farewell Address" had warned the 



Formation of the Confederacy. 



349 



country of the evils which must ensue from sectional legis- 
lation, and events proved the truth of his forebodings. 

South Carolina Secedes, 1860. — South Carolina summoned 
a convention of her people as soon as the fact of Mr. Lin- 
coln's election was ascertained. This convention, on Decem- 
ber 20th, unanimously passed an " Ordinance of Seces- 
sion," bv which the State severed her connection with the 




SECESSION HALL. 



Union and took into her own hands the rights and pow- 
ers she had yielded to the Federal Government in 1788. 
Her example was promptly followed by the Gulf States. 
Mississippi seceded on January 9, 1861, Florida on January 
10th, Alabama on January 11th, Georgia on January 19th, 
Louisiana on January 26th, and Texas on February 1st. 
These seven States withdrew from the Union before Mr. 
Lincoln was inaugurated. Each of them did this for the 



350 History of the United States. 

plainly expressed reasons that the Northern States had again 
and again violated the provisions of the Constitution, and 
by Mr. Lincoln's election had declared their purpose to con- 
tinue so to do, and to refuse to permit the Southern States 
to exercise the rights expressly reserved to them under such 
provisions. 

Mr. Buchanan's Views. — The thirty-sixth Congress met 
before these acts of Secession had been concluded. Mr. 
Buchanan, in his message, referred to the alarming condi- 
tion of the country. He held that no State had the right to 
withdraw from the Union ; but that, if she did so, there 
was no power in the Federal Government to coerce her, and 
he urged Congress to measures of conciliation by mutual 
concessions. 

Crittenden Resolution. — In accordance with these sugges- 
tions, Mr. Crittenden of Kentucky offered, as a proposed 
amendment to the Constitution, that, since the Supreme 
Court had pronounced the Missouri Compromise unconsti- 
tutional, the line named in that compromise — 36° 30' — 
should be the division between the Territories, north of 
which they should be absolutely free, but south of which 
they should be open to the Southern people with their slaves, 
and should have the right, when formed into States, to retain 
or reject slavery ; that the slaves like all other jiroperty must 
be protected ; and that when a fugitive slave was not re- 
stored to his owner, the full value of such slave must be paid 
in money. This -proposed amendment was satisfactory to 
Mr. Davis and the other Southern leaders, and also to Mr. 
Douglas and the Northern Conservatives, but none of the 
Northern agitators or supporters of Lincoln would agree to it. 

Differing Views of the Country. — The Southern States had 
no desire for war, no intention to trespass on the rights of 
their sister States. Their only purpose was to assert and 
vindicate what they believed to be their own. Many of 
the Northern people also believed in the right of secession 
and the unlawfulness of coercion. Leading newspapers and 
prominent politicians in New York and elsewhere avowed 
that if a State chose to secede, there must be no attempt to 
force her to remain in the Union. Again and again it was 
maintained that coercion and strife must be avoided by 
" compromise or peaceable separation." The demagogues 



Formation of the Confederacy. 



351 



and anti-Southern men had determined differently. They 
were in favor of taking the most extreme measures, some 
saying tliat "a little blood-letting" would strengthen the 
Union ; while others affected to believe that the South had 
neither the courage nor the desire to persist in an indepen- 
dent course. All of them were resolved to jjush her to the wall. 
The Southern Leaders. — You are not to suppose that the 
States which withdrew from the Federal Union were con- 
rolled and taken out only by the action of hot-headed " fire- 




JEFFEESON DAVIS. 



eaters," as their opponents called the decided secessionists. 
Their councils were directed by the gravest and wisest of 
their citizens, men who loved the Union and who would 
gladly have remained in it at any cost, save that of the freedom 



352 History of the United States. 

and honor of their States. They had argued and reasoned 
and asked for simple justice, on the floors of Congress, from 
the liands of the stronger half of the United States; and 
now they believed that there was no hope and no resource 
for them but in severing their connection from a Union 
whose predominant section was bent on crushing out their 
independence. If you will read the farewell speeches of the 
Senators and Representatives of the seceding States, as 
one by one they obeyed the calls of their States and took 
leave of their associates in Congress, you will see how deep 
and solemn were their feelings and how thoroughly they 
appreciated the importance of the step the}'' were taking. 

Organization of the Southern Confederacy, 1861. — Dele- 
gates from the seceded States met in a Congress at Mont- 
gomery, Alabama, on February 4th. They drew up a provi- 
sional constitution for the "Confederate States," and elected 
Jefferson Davis of Mississippi President and Alexander H. 
Stephens of Georgia Vice-President of the new Confederacy. 
In proof of their desire for peace, one of their first acts was 
to send commissioners to Washington to establish peaceable 
relations with the United States Government; and to ask 
for a peaceable settlement, upon the basis of right and jus- 
tice, of all questions which must necessarily arise between 
the two sections of what had so lately been one Republic. 

Jefferson Davis. — Jefferson Davis was born in Kentucky 
on June 3, 1808. In 1828 he was graduated at the Military 
Academy at West Point and entered the United States Army. 
He took part in the " Black Hawk War" in the northwest. 
When that redoubted chief surrendered in 1832, he and his 
warriors were sent to St. Louis under charge of Lieutenant 
Davis. In 1835 young Davis resigned from the army and 
became a cotton planter in Mississippi. When the Mexican 
War came on, Mr. Davis, who was then a member of Con- 
gress, was elected colonel of a regiment of Mississippi Volun- 
teers. He and his command did gallant service especially 
at the battle of Buena Vista, Avhere he was severely wounded. 
Upon his return to Mississippi, Mr. Davis was sent to the 
United States Senate where he remained until the secession 
of Mississippi, except during President Pierce's administra- 
tion when he was Secretary of AVar. In this position he 
did good service in improving the condition of the army 




THE 

CONFEDERATE 

1860. 



Greenwich 




Formation of iJie Confederacy. 



353 



He was a political follower of John C. Calhoun and a firm 
advocate of the doctrine of State Rights, but he was also a 
conservative man and wished and labored to maintain those 
rights within the Union. As an orator he had no superior. 
His voice was silvery and his arguments weighty. General 
Gushing of Massachusetts characterized him in 1858 as 
"eloquent among the most eloquent in debate, wise among 
the wisest in counsel, and brave among the bravest on the 
battle-field." While doing all that he thought consistent with 
the honor of the South to avoid a disruption of the Union, 
Mr. Davis considered that by the election of a sectional 
President the Southern States were forced to secede. His 
speech on taking leave of the Senate in Washington was 
said to have moved his opponents to tears. As President of 
the Southern Confederacy, Mr. Davis found himself in a 
position of exceeding difficulty. His loyal adherence to con- 
stitutional liberty prevented him from exercising the arbi- 
trary authority which proved so efficient in Mr. Lincoln's 
case. Indeed, the Southern Congress and people would 
hardly have sustained him in doing so. His conduct through- 
out the eventful four years showed him to be an earnest, 
unselfish, devoted patriot, against whom not even the bit- 
terest enemy could bring any 
charge to sully the purity of 
his character or the loftiness of 
his motives. His after life was 
one prolonged martyrdom to his 
country's cause. 

Peace Congress, 1861. — Vir- 
ginia, which had yielded more 
power and given more terri- 
tory to secure the Union than 
any other State, was most de- 
sirous to preserve it now. In 
February, 1861, an extra ses- 
sion of her Legislature called 
a " Peace Congress " from the 
other States, to which she sent 
five of her clearest headed and 
soundest statesmen, one of whom was the venerable Ex- 
President Tyler. In this assembly twenty-three States par- 
22 




A. H. STEPHENS. 



354 History of the United States. 

ticipated, some of them hoping to effect an acceptable com- 
promise. It drew up and presented to Congress resolutions 
similar in purport to those of Mr. Crittenden, which, like 
those, were rejected by Congress. There seemed no possi- 
bility of coming to an amicable settlement of the differences 
between the disagreeing parties. 

The Forts in the South. — In the mean time, the necessity 
of self-defence required the newly organized Confederate 
Government to take possession of the forts within the terri- 
tory of the seceded States. These had been built on ground 
granted by them to the United States solely for their own 
defence. Now that they had withdrawn from the Union, 
they considered that this property naturally reverted to them, 
and they at once took possession of all of it except the de- 
fences of Charleston Harbor and the forts on the coast of 
Florida. They also made overtures to the Government at 
Washington, to obtain possession of the latter without strife. 

Fort Sumter Garrisoned by the United States. — South 
Carolina thought she had an assurance from President Buch- 
anan that no steps would be taken to reinforce the small gar- 
rison in Charleston Harbor, on condition that she would re- 
frain from interfering with it. Under orders from the Presi- 
dent, however, Major Anderson commanding the garrison 
withdrew it from Fort Moultrie into the stronger position at 
Fort Sumter, after destroying as far as possible the defences 
of Fort Moultrie. Mr. Buchanan also attempted to rein- 
force the garrison by troops sent from the North, but their 
steamer, Star of the West, was not permitted to enter the har- 
bor. General Cass, Buchanan's Secretary of State, had re- 
signed from the Cabinet because Anderson was not promptly 
reinforced, and now Floyd from Virginia, Secretary of War, 
resigned because of the attempt to do so. The garrison in 
Fort Sumter was all this time allowed to supply itself in the 
Charleston market and to communicate freely with the au- 
thorities at Washington ; and nothing decisive was done 
during the brief remainder of Buchanan's term of office. 

AUTHORITIES.— Schouler's History of the United States, Vol. V.; Congressional Re- 
cord; Johnston's History and Constitution of the United States; Von Hoist's Con- 
stitutional History of the United States, Vols. VI., VII.; Rhode's History of the 
United States. Vol. II.; S. S. Cox's Three Decades of Constitutional Legislation; 
Lalor's Cyclopedia; Appleton's Encyclopedia; Raymond's Life of Abraham Lincoln; 
Ridpath's Popular History of the United States; Jefferson Davis's Rise and Fall of the 
Confederate Government; Bledsoe's Is Davis a Traitor? Stephens's War between the 



Lincoln's Administration. 355 

states; E. A. Pollard'is Lost Cause; Woodrow Wilson's Division and Reunion; Curry'a 
Southern States; McPherson's Political History of the Rebellion. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. What were the effects of John Brown's raid? 2. What 
were Mr Davis's resolutions which were passed by the Senate in 1860 ? 3. Tell 
of the candidates and the election for President in 1860. 4. Give the life of 
Abraham Lincoln. 5. What made secession necessary? 6. What State 
seceded first ? 7. When ? 8. IIow many and which States soon followed her 
example ? 9. Tell Mr. Buchanan's views. 10. What was the Crittenden Reso- 
lution? 11. The different view at the North and at the South? 13. "What 
sort of men were the Southern leaders? 13. Tell of the formation of the 
"Confederate States." 14. Who were elected President and Vice-President ? 
in. Give the life of Jefferson Davis. 16. Tell of Virginia's efforts for peace. 
17. What was done with the forts in the South ? 18. Who was in command 
at Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor ? 19. Find the places on the map. 



CHAPTER LXIV. 

LINCOLN'S ADMINISTRATION— BEGINNING OF THE CIVIL 

WAR, 

Lincoln's Inaugural Address. — Mr. Lincoln was inaugu- 
rated on March 4, 1861. He had made the last part of the 
journey to Washington with haste and secrecy, because of a 
rumor that he would be assassinated. The same appre- 
hension caused the procession to the Capitol in Washington 
to be guarded by United States soldiers under command of 
General Scott, the chief officer of the Army. In his inau- 
gural address the new President took the strong ground 
that "the Union of the States is perpetual"; that "no State 
can lawfully get out of the Union "; that he considered the 
Union unbroken, and should "take care that all the laws 
of the Union should be faithfully executed in all the States." 
These and other expressions were thought to be of such a 
menacing tone that the Virginia Convention, still in ses- 
sion, sent a delegation to Mr. Lincoln to ask him to define 
his intentions more clearly. His reply was that he con- 
sidered the military posts and property in the seceded States 
as still belonging to the United States, and that he should 
use his best ability to "repossess" them. This was a plain 
declaration of his intention to attempt coercion, at least to 
a limited extent. 



356 History of the United States. 

The Cabinet. — The Cabinet at Washington was composed 
of men known to be extreme in their views and feelings 
against the South. William H. Seward of New York, Sec- 
retary of State; Salmon P. Chase of Ohio, Secretary of the 
Treasury, Simon Cameron of Pennsylvania, Secretary of 
War; Gideon Welles of Connecticut, Secretary of the Navy; 
Caleb Smith of Indiana, Secretary of the Interior; Mont- 
gomery Blair of Maryland, Postmaster-General; Edward 
Bates of Missouri, Attorney-General. The commissioners 
from the Southern Confederacy made the same application 
for a recognition and peaceable settlement of their differ- 
ences to Mr. Lincoln that they had done to his predecessor. 
The c[uestion of reinforcing and "repossessing" the South- 
ern forts was attracting much attention. Mr. Douglas of 
Illinois who had no sympathy with secession, advocated in 
the Senate the withdrawal of the United States troops from 
all of them except those at Key West and the dry Tortugas. 
He did this on the ground that the forts could not be held 
or recaptured unless it was determined to subjugate the 
States in which they were situated, for whatever power con- 
trolled those States must necessarily have possession of the 
forts. He said that, however much he regretted it, a South- 
ern Confederacy did actually exist, and that he and his 
party were in favor of establishing peaceable relations with 
it. General Scott, Commander-in-chief of the Army, also 
urged the evacuation of the Southern forts, and Major 
Anderson commanding at Sumter advised that his garrison 
should be withdrawn. 

Plan to Reinforce Fort Sumter, 1861. — But these coun- 
sels were not allowed to prevail. Mr. Seward, Secretary of 
State, put the Southern Commissioners off from time to 
time ; but assurances from him were given to Judge Camp- 
bell from Alabama, a Justice of the Supreme Court, first, 
that Sumter would be evacuated; then, that "faith as to 
Sumter would be fully kept"; and then that he must 
" wait and see." While the commissioners were thus kept 
in suspense, news was received at Charleston that an expe- 
dition was fitting out at New York to bring provisions and 
reinforcements to Sumter. A messenger was also sent to 
notify the governor of South Carolina that " an attempt 
would be made to supply Fort Sumter with provisions, 




FEDERAL GENERALS. 



Lincobi's Administration. 



357 




P, G. T. BEAUREGARD, LA. 



peaceably if they could, forcibly if they must " ; and that 
if this was not resisted, there would be no effort to rein- 
force the garrison " without 
further notice." This notice 
was, no doubt, to be given 
when the armed vessels with 
troops on board had reached 
the harbor. A storm delayed 
the ships, and this gave time 
for the Confederate Govern- 
ment to direct the authori- 
ties at Charleston to demand 
the surrender of Fort Sum- 
ter. Accordingly, on the 
night of April 11th, General 
Beauregard summoned Ma- 
jor Anderson to surrender. 
This he promptly refused to 
do, but added that he would 
evacuate the fort on the 15th, 
if he did not before that " re- 
ceive instructions from his government, or additional sup- 
plies." 

Bombardment of Fort Sumter an Act of Self -Defence. — 
The " Relief Fleet " of eight armed vessels, with a number 

of cannon and several hundred sol- 
diers on board, was then off the coast, 
and was only deterred from entering 
the harbor by an adverse gale of 
wind. There was no time for delay, 
and Beauregard notified Anderson 
that his batteries would open on 
Sumter at half-past four o'clock on 
the morning of April 12th. This 
was done, and the bombardment con- 
tinued for about thirty-three hours, 
when the garrison surrendered. A 
remarkable fact attending this fierce 
and prolonged cannonading, was that no one was injured by 
it, though the fort was almost battered to pieces and set 
on fire. One of the garrison was killed and others were 



r-x 



fc^ 




FIRI.\(; ON FORT SUMTKR. 



358 History of the United States. 

wounded by the explosion of one of their own guns. For 
this firing upon Sumter, the South has been charged with 
" beginning the War." In fact, tlie War began when the 
Washington government sent armed vessels and troops to 
enter Charleston Harbor, and the attack on Sumter was 
purely in self-defence. 

The Struggle for Southern Independence Necessary. — Be- 
fore we go into the story of the desperate and bloody strug- 
gle for Southern Independence, let us review the causes 
which made it necessary. The charge is usually made that 
it was undertaken by the South for the preservation of 
slavery, and that it was intended to bring about a re-open- 
ing of the African slave trade. This is untrue. You have 
seen that from the first there had been differences of opinion 
as to whether the States or the Union were the source of 
power. The Northern and Southern interests had always 
been opposed to each other. The protective tariffs required 
to foster Northern manufactures were, without exception, 
injurious and obnoxious to the South, which always con- 
tended against them. 

Centralization and State Rights. — Besides this, there had 
always been two parties under various names, one of which 
held that the Constitution favored " centralization " or giving 
the largest powers to the National Government ; the other 
that the States, as sovereign and independent, had abso- 
lute inherent rights which the Constitution recognized and 
which it was intended and bound to protect. The original 
preference of the North for a strong central government 
was increased, as I have before said, by the large influx of 
foreign population, which had no Slate attachments nor 
State pride, and which gloried in the National Govern- 
ment as being partly regulated by themselves. A large 
party in the Southern States had always been strong in their 
adherence to Mr. Jefferson's views of their rights, and never 
hesitated to avow and defend them. 

Slavery Recognized by the Constitution. — One of the rights, 
on the recognition of which the Constitution was founded, 
and which it was bound to protect, was that of holding 
slaves. When the Constitution was adopted in 1787, slavery 
existed in almost all the States. Its disappearance in New 
England and the other Northern States was not only a mat- 



LincoIn^s Administration. 359 

ter of sentiment but one of interest. Negro labor did not 
pay there, as it did in the South, and was therefore trans- 
ferred to the warmer climate. Many statesmen held that 
slavery was inexpedient and politically injurious; but that 
it was morally wrong was rarely advanced against it, until 
William Lloyd Garrison and his followers denounced it as 
'* the sum of all iniquity," and at the same time, with a can- 
dor for which they are to be commended, acknowledged that 
the Constitution favored it, and was a " covenant with death, 
and a league with hell," and must be abandoned. After a 
while, the politicians thought it wise and prudent to take ad- 
vantage of the abolitionist doctrine of "the sin of slavery," 
and engrafted it into their creeds and platforms as a popular 
catchword to increase the opposition to the South, which was 
aggravated by a growing jealousy of her civilization and 
prosperity. 

Views of the Southern People. — This outcry against the 
sin of slavery had made the Southern people consider the 
subject, and they had reached the deliberate conclusion that 
it was not contrary to the law of God. Like all human in- 
stitutions, it had evils connected with it, but they believed 
them less than those of any other system of labor. Under 
its influence they saw hundreds of thousands of African 
savages civilized and Christianized; and many of them 
thought it the greatest missionary agent the world had ever 
known. The kindest and most affectionate relations existed 
between the slaves and their owners. A cruel or neglectful 
master or mistress was rarely found; and where an overseer 
on a distant plantation ill-used or over-worked the negroes 
under his charge, he generally proved to be a man whose 
treatment of wife and children would have been an equal 
argument for the abolition of family or parental relationship. 
The sense of responsibility pressed heavily on the slave- 
owners, and the rule among them was to do the best possible 
for the physical and religious welfare of their people. They 
did not consider the bondage in which the negroes were 
held a hardship or wrong to them, as they were fed, clothed, 
lodged, and cared for, better than any other menial class on 
the globe. I am not apologizing for slavery nor defending 
it. I am telling you how the noble-minded, patriotic, reli- 
gious people of the South looked on it in 1861. 



360 History of the United States. 

Mr, Lincoln's Views. — Mr. Lincoln himself was, in the 
beginning, averse to having the question of slavery consid- 
ered as one of superior importance among the causes of the 
War. He admitted that the right to hold slaves was expressly 
guaranteed by the Constitution, which he declared himself 
most anxious to uphold. Later on he proclaimed that eman- 
cipation had become " a military necessity," on which ground 
he proceeded to act. 

Slavery Under the Confederacy. — The re-opening of the 
slave-trade was expressly forbidden by the Constitution of 
the Confederate States, which declared that no slaves should 
be brought into them from anywhere else. And while that 
Constitution gave slave-holders the express right to carry 
their slaves into any Territory belonging to the Confed- 
eracy, it also provided that when the Territory became a 
State it should be slave-holding or free, according to the will 
of its citizens. 

War Not to Preserve Slavery. — Not so much to preserve 
or extend slavery, nor to have more power to reclaim their 
fugitive slaves — which must be more difficult to do from a 
foreign country than from sister States — did the Southern 
States secede from the Union. They took the momentous 
step, because for years they had striven in vain to secure and 
maintain the rights assured to them under the Constitution. 
The Northern States had taken their stand against the equal 
rights of all the States in the possession of the Territories. 
They were not shaken in their opposition by the decision of 
the Supreme Court against them, and proceeded to mani- 
fest their utter disregard of it or anything contrary to their 
determination to control the government according to their 
own will. The election of Mr. Lincoln by a party, fornled 
on the ground of hostility to them, 1)rought these differences 
to a crisis, and the South took her affairs into her own hands 
and left the Union. Even her enemies are constrained to 
acknowledge that the rights she claimed were hers under the 
Constitution and to justify their own action by an appeal to 
what they call "the Higher Law." 

AUTHORITIES.— Schouler's History of the TJnitecJ States, Vol. V.; Congressional 
Record; Johnston's History and Constitution of the United States; Von Hol?t's Con- 
stitutional History of the United States, Vols. VI., VII. ; Rhode's History of the 
United States, Vol. II.; S. S. Cox's Three Decades of Constitutional Legislation; 
Lalor's Cyclopedia; Raymond's Life of .Abraham Lincoln; Ridpaths Popular History 
of the United States; Jefferson Pavis's Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government; 



Liricoln's Administration, 1861. 361 

Bledsoe's Is Davis a Traitor?; Stephens's War Between the States; E. A. Pollard's 
Lost Cause; Woodrow Wilson's Division and Reunion ; Curry's Southern States ; Mc- 
Pherson's Political History of the Rebellion. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. Tell of Mr. Lincoln's inaugural address. 2. His Cabi- 
net. 3. "What was said about the Southern forts ? 4. What was done about 
Fort Sumter? 5. Who was the Federal commander? 6. AVho was the 
Confederate commander at Charleston? 7. "What demand did he make of 
Major Anderson ? 8. With what result? 9. EWd the South liegin the war? 
10. Describe the firing on Fort Sumter. 11. Explain how the struggle was 
necessary. 12. AVhat two parties had always existed? IB. What did the 
Abolitionists call the Constitution because it allowed slavery ? 14. Give the 
views of the Southern people. 15. Mr. Lincoln's views. 16. What did the Con- 
federate Constitution say of slavery ? 17. Was the war fought in order to 
preserve slavery ? 



CHAPTER LXV. 

LINCOLN-' 8 ADMINISTRATION. CONTINUED.— 1861. 

Call for 75,000 Men, 1861. — Fort Sumter surrendered on 
April 14th; and on the 15th, President Lincohi issued a pro- 
clamation calling upon the several States to furnish 75,000 
troops " to suppress combinations in the seceded States too 
powerful for the law to contend with " ; and summoning an 
extra session of Congress to meet on the 4th of July. The 
effect of this proclamation was great. The " War Govern- 
ors " of the Northern States were mostly men of strong char- 
acter and pronounced views, who shared Mr. Lincoln's opin- 
ions and approved his plans. Some of them had taken 
prompt steps to put their States in fighting trim, and readily 
responded to this call for troops to coerce their " erring sis- 
ters." On the Southern States still remaining in the Union, 
the effect was quite different. "Honest John Letcher," the 
patriotic governor of Virginia, at once replied to Mr. Lin- 
coln that the State would furnish no soldiers for any such 
purpose; and similar replies were made by the governors of 
Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas. 

Other States Secede. — The Virginia Convention was made 
up, for the most part, of Union-loving men, who had steadily 
refused to have the question of secession brought to a vote. 
But when they were forced to decide between taking up arms 
against their Southern sisters or withdrawing from the 
Undon, they chose the latter; and, on the night of April 



362 History of the United States. 

17th, passed an Ordinance of Secession, by a large majority. 
The members opposed to it were principally from the west- 
ern part of the State where there were many Northern set- 
tlers, whose opinions were like those of Ohio and Pennsyl- 
vania. North Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas soon fol- 
lowed Virginia's example; and all four of them joined the 
Southern Confederacy. Maryland, Kentucky, Missouri, and 
Delaware were also slave-holding States, but they never 
seceded. The first three attempted to remain neutral, but 
were forcibly brought under the Federal power, though each 
gave many soldiers to the Southern army and had fierce bat- 
tles fought on its soil. Under the sanction of the governor 
of Maryland, many members of the legislature of the State 
were imprisoned by order of the Secretary of War and Gen- 
eral McClellan, to prevent their passing an ordinance of 
secession. Missouri w^as largely in favor of secession, but 
the Northern politicians were too strong to permit it, though 
they could not prevent her becoming a bloody battle-ground. 
Delaware sympathized with the North. 

Disparity Between the North and the South. — The open- 
ing of the war found both parties unprepared for a pro- 
longed struggle, but the North, with more than 20,000,000 of 
people,, had a regular army, though small 
and scattered ; arsenals ; manufactories of 
arms ; powder mills ; an organized navy ; 
and, by its outcry against slavery and rebel- 
lion, soon enlisted the sympathy of almost all 
the world. The Soutli, with only 9,000,000 
people, more than 3,000,000 of them negroes, 
had neither army nor navy, neither manu- 

SAMUEL COOPER, VA. jy , • p 1 Ml /^ 

lactones oi arms nor powder mills. Gene- 
ral Floyd, Secretary of War under Buchanan, after the John 
Brown alarm, had given the Southern States, as their share 
of arms in the arsenals, a number of indifferent muskets 
and some cannon ; but these were nothing like enough to 
supply their soldiers. 

Confederate Soldiers. — In two respects the Confederacy 
was equal to the United States — the ability and character of 
her officers and the almost universal devotion of her people. 
With few exceptions, the Southern officers of the Army and 
Navy felt it their highest duty to devote their services to 




Lincoln's Administration, 1861. 



363 



their native States. They were among the best in their dif- 
ferent lines, and proceeded at once to give discipline and 
efficiency to the untried and untrained soldiers put under 
their authorit3^ General Samuel Cooper, the Adjutant and 
Inspector-General of the United States Army, resigned and 
accepted the same position under the Confederacy. Robert 
E. Lee and Joseph E. Johnston of Virginia, and Albert Sid- 
ney Johnston, a native of Kentucky but a citizen of Texas, 
were the acknowledged lead- 
ers among the numbers of 
officers who at once took 
sides with their States. 
Their aEility and experi- 
ence placed them in the 
most responsible positions. 
Lee was immediately made 
Commander-in-chief of the 
A^irginia forces ; Joseph E. 
Johnston was put in com- 
mand at Harper's Ferry, 
and A11)ert Sidney John- 
ston, who came from Cali- 
fornia to Richmond to offer 
his sword to the Confede- 
racy, was given the chief 
military authority in the 
West. The soldiers them- 
selves were of every rank 
and age. "The contagion 
of a generous patriotism " 
seized the whole people from 
the Potomac to the Rio Grande, and the lowly and the well- 
born, old men and beardless boys, were eager to defend their 
country. The women of every degree, mothers, wives, sis- 
ters, and sweethearts, shared in the enthusiasm, and with 
tears on their faces, but unfaltering courage in their hearts, 
prepared their loved ones to join the army. 

Harper's Ferry and the Gosport Navy-Yard. — Thus, when 
the Confederate States government called for troops, it met 
with a quick response everywhere throughout the South. Vir- 
ginia made haste to take possession of the armory at Harper's 




LEAVING HOME. 



364 History of the United States. 

Ferry, and the Gosport Navy Yard at Norfolk. But the 
Federal officers holding these posts set fire to them and de- 
stroyed a great quantity of arms, ammunition, and machin- 
ery, before abandoning their commands. Several ships at 
the Navy Yard were scuttled and sunk, but a great number 
of cannon and other materials were found uninjured when 
it was taken by the Virginians. A number of citizens had 
approached Governor Letcher some weeks earlier, offering to 
capture and hold Fortress Monroe for the State of Virginia. 
But the governor, like the whole State, was making every 
effort to preserve the Union by compromise and concilia- 
tion. He refused to countenance any breach of loyalty to 
the Government at Washington, so long as Virginia contin- 
ued one of the United States; and he assured the persons 
proposing to seize Fortress Monroe that he should consider 
such an attempt as treason and should punish it as such. 
When the State did secede, the fort had been garrisoned so 
strongly that it could not be taken. 

The First Blood Shed, 1861.— The first blood shed during 
the war was in Baltimore, on the 19th of April. Troops from 
Massachusetts and Pennsylvania were hurrying to Washing- 
ton in response to Mr. Lincoln's call. Citizens of Baltimore, 
indignant at sight of soldiers in their streets on their way 
to attack the Southern States, attempted to oppose their 
passage through the city. Unarmed, as they mostly were, 
they could effect very little, but the soldiers fired into the 
mob and several persons were killed. The bridges north of 
the city were then burned, and such determined opposition 
was shown to Mr. Lincoln's policy, that another route was 
chosen for bringing soldiers to Washington. But Baltimore 
was severely punished for the outbreak. Her civil officers 
were arrested and imprisoned. The right of Habeas Corpus 
was suspended and a military government set over the city, 
in defiance of the laws of Maryland. 

Preparation for War. — In the mean time, warlike prepara- 
tions went on all over the country, in the North and in the 
South. Virginia troops occupied Harper's Ferry on April 
18th, and companies and regiments were ordered to that 
point as fast as they could be equipped. It was plain that 
Virginia, lying close to Washington, was to be the battle- 
ground; and, as soon as she formed an alliance with the 




-[gNCSTREET- 
CONFEDERATE GENERALS. 



Lincohi's Administration, 1861. 365 

Southern Confederacy, Southern troops were sent forward 
to Harper's Ferry with all speed. 

Mr. Lincoln's Proclamations. — In addition to the procla- 
mation calling for 75,000 volunteers, Mr, Lincoln in the 
next few weeks issued others. The first declared that all 
Southern ports were blockaded, and that they would be 
guarded by United States war vessels to prevent any ships 
from entering or leaving them. One ordered an increase of 
the Federal Army to 64,748 soldiers, and of the Navy to 
18,000 seamen; another suspended the writ of Habeas Corpus, 
the great protection of individual liberty, in certain military 
districts; and others directed that Southern privateersmen 
should be treated as pirates. These proclamations were all 
in violation of the Constitution, which gave no such authority 
to the President. But Mr. Lincoln had no hesitation in his 
methods. He had the power in his own hands, and he used 
it to effect his purposes, leaving it to Congress to ratify his 
action when it should meet. 

The Blockade. — His promptness added much to the Fede- 
ral strength. The blockade of Southern ports prevented 
European vessels from bringing to them, in exchange for 
their cotton, the supplies of all sorts so greatly needed in the 
Confederacy, and made it very hazardous for any ships to 
attempt such service. The Southern officers in command 
of ships on foreign service, though they came home to re- 
sign and share the fortunes of their States, did not suffi- 
ciently understand the progress of events to bring their 
vessels into the Southern harbors. These vessels might have 
been considered as rightly belonging to the South as her 
share of the Navy. But this view was taken too late to be 
of any service, and, with scores of naval officers, she had 
no ships for them to command. Suspending the right of 
Habeas Corpus put every man in the power of his enemies, 
especially when subordinate commanders were empowered 
to order such suspension. There was no redress under the 
law, and many a man was arrested and thrown into prison 
without understanding what offence was charged against 
him. The position with regard to privateers had to be 
abandoned, because England would not consent to it. 

Immensity of the Struggle. — It will be impossible within 
the limits of this book to give you a detailed account of all 



366 



History of the United Slates. 



the events of this momentous war. I shall, however, try to 
present a general view of the gigantic struggle, and tell of 
the most important and decisive battles. The frontier of 
the Confederacy was so extended; there were so many vul- 
nerable points; and the resources brought to bear against 
her were so enormous, that the story of the whole seems 
almost incredible. But though there was severe fighting in 
many different places which bore hard upon the people of 
those regions; and though the trials, privations, and sorrows 
of the war were felt throughout the whole South, Virginia, 
from the first, had to bear the brunt of the strife. On her soil 
were fought the most bloody battles; and over her fair fields 
swept continuously the storm of destruction and devastation. 
Confederate Capital Removed to Richmond, Virginia, 1861. 
In the month of May, the State of Virginia formally ratified 
the Ordinance of Secession, and, directly afterwards, the 

Government of the Confede- 
racy was removed from 
Montgomery to Richmond, 
which was the Capital of the 
New Republic until the close 
of the war. All the troops 
which could be raised and 
equipped and spared from 
home defence, were brought 
to Virginia as speedily as 
possible. The North also 
made tremendous prepara- 
tions; so that by July 1st 
they had 300,000 men en- 
rolled. These were dis- 
patched to different points, 
but the largest part were to 
be directed against Virginia, 
which was threatened on the 
north, the east, and the west. 
Greatness of the Struggle 
Not Realized. — But with all 
this enthusiasm and gather- 
ing of soldiers, few persons realized the magnitude or anti- 
cipated the length of the struggle. The North believed that 




EECEPTION BY PRESIDENT AND MRS. DAVIS. 



Lincoln's Administration, 1861. 367 

the South would not fight and could not hold its own in 
face of the enormous odds against it; while the South thought 
that there were many friends to constitutional liberty among 
the Northern people, who would somehow jnoderate the hos- 
tility of their neighbors. She believed her cotton essential 
for the commerce and comfort of the world, and relied much 
upon its value to neutralize the blockade and to procure 
for her the recognition and support of France and England. 
She thought that when once her firm determination to 
defend herself was proved, the righteousness of her cause 
would be acknowledged and that she would be permitted to 
govern herself peaceably. A proof of this general misunder- 
standing of the actual condition of affairs, is the fact that 
most of the volunteers in the Northern army were enlisted 
for three months, or a hundred days only; while the South- 
ern soldiers entered the army for six months or " until the 
close of the war," which was understood to mean a shorter 
period. 

Difficulty of Equipping the Armies.* — The Federal Govern- 
ment with all its power, with its great manufactories of all 
sorts, and with the markets of the world open to it, found 
it difficult to prepare and equip in a short time the large 
bodies of men in its camps. In the South, with no manu- 
factories or facilities for obtaining supplies from abroad, the 
difficulty was far greater. The old-fashioned guns in the 
Southern arsenals, and those captured from the United 
States troops in Texas, did not provide arms for the home 
defences and any considerable force in tlie field. There was 
no supply of powder and ammunition even for these, and 
no equipments for cavalry and artillery. Ail these deficien- 
cies made the raising and preparing of armies for defence 
a work of great labor and anxiety. 

Enterprise of the South. — A large number of guns, am- 
munition, and military supplies were ordered from the North 
and from Europe, but the strict blockade prevented most of 
them from reaching their destination. The Confederate 
Government and people exerted wonderful energy and inge- 
nuity to supply these wants. The machinery for making 
guns had been little injured in the burning of Harper's Ferry. 
It was quickly removed to Richmond and to Fayetteville, 
N. C, and j^ut to work. The large iron foundry at the Trede- 



368 



History of the United States. 



gar Works in Richmond was converted into a manufactory 
of field artillery ; and smaller establishments for the same 

purpose were opened at 
New Orleans and at Nash- 
ville, Tennessee. A con- 
siderable supply of sul- 
phur, stored in New Or- 
leans for the use of the 
sugar refineries, was at 
once utilized for making 
powder. Nitre for the 
same purpose was ob- 
tained from cellars and 
caves, and from beds 
constructed to develop it 
in many places. Labora- 
t o r i e s and workshops 
were opened to furnish gun-caps and accoutrements of all 
sorts. Small powder mills were set up at different points, and 
a large one was established by the Government at Augusta, 
Georgia^ Wagon shops and harness makers were employed 
to make suitable transportation and harness for the artillery. 
Southern women met in "Aid Societies " and made tents, 
clothing, haversacks, and caps for the soldiers. Every one 
everywhere did the best possible to assist in the defence of 
the South. But this all took time. In the first months of 
the war, only the rudest appliances could be made use of; 
and, as materials and manufactories improved, other diffi- 
culties still more serious hampered and crippled the be- 
leagured Confederac3\ 




CONFEDERATE FLAG. 



AUTHORITIES.— Sehonler'g History of the United States, Vol. V.; Memoirs of 
Albert Sidney Johnston by William Preston Johnston; Congressional Record; John- 
ston's History and Constitution of the United States ; Von Hoist's Constitutional His* 
tory of the United .states. Vols. VI., VII.; Rhode's History of the United States, 
Vol. II.; S. S. Cox's Three Decades of Constitutional Legislation; Lalor's Cyclopedia; 
Raymonds Life of Abraham Lincoln ; Ridpath's Popular History of the United States ; 
Jellerson Davis's Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government; Bledsoe's Is Davis a 
Traitor?; Stephens's War between the States; E. A. Pollard's Lost Cause; Woodro-w 
Wilson's Division and Reunion ; Curry's Southern States; McPherson's Political His- 
tory of the Rebellion. 

QUESTIONS.— 1 . What was the effect of the fall of Fort Sumter ? 2. Which 
four States next seceded 'i 3. Tell of the great disparity in resources between 
the North and the South. 4. In what were they equal? 5. Mention some of 
the Southern militarj- leaders. 6. What of the private soldiers? 7. What 
foi-ts did Virginia take ? 8. Where is Fortress Monroe ? 9. Where was the 



Lincoln's Administration, 1861. 



369 



first blood shed ? 10. Tell of the preparations for war. 11. What proclama- 
tlous did Mr. Lincoln make ? 12. What is said of the blockade in the South ? 
18. The immensity of the strng,t,'le ? 14. To what city was the Confederate 
Capital now moved? 15. How long did people think the war would last? 
16. Was it easy to equip the armies ? 17. Tell of the enterprise of the South. 



CHAPTER LXVI. 

LINCOLN'S ADMINISTRATION, CONTINUED.— 1861. 

The Armies in Virginia. — Virginia, which was the first 
battle-ground, was threatened by four different armies. A 
large one was assembled at Wash- 
ington ; another under General 
Patterson, on the upper Potomac ; 
a third commanded by General 
Butler, around Fortress Monroe ; 
while a fourth under General Mc- 
Clellan, was to operate in the 
northwestern part of the State 
along the line of the Baltimore 
and Ohio Railroad; about 100,000 
men in all. To meet these in- 
vading forces there were about 
15,000 men at Harper's Ferry 
under General Joseph E. John- 
ston : 20,000 at Manassas Junc- 
tion, thirty miles from Washing- 
ton, under General Beauregard ; 
8,000 near Yorktown under Gen- 
eral Magruder ; about the same 
number in western Virginia ; 
and a few thousand at Norfolk, and along the lower Poto- 
mac ; some 65,000, most of whom were indifferently armed 
and scantily supplied with accoutrements, clothing, and tents. 

First Blood Shed in Virginia. — On May 24th a detachment 
of Federal soldiers crossed the Potomac at Washington and 
encamped on Virginia soil. Colonel Elsworth, of the New 
York Fire Zouaves, rushed into a hotel at Alexandria and 
tore down a Confederate flag which was floating from the 
roof. For this outrage upon his house, Jackson, the pro- 
23 




CONFEDEKATK BATTLE FLAG. 



170 



History of the United States. 



prietor of the hotel, shot Elsworth dead, and was in return 
killed by the New York soldiers. This was the first blood 
spilled in Virginia. 

Big Bethel. — On June 10th a fight occurred near Big 
Bethel Church between Yorktown and Hampton. Butler's 
men, 3,000 strong, attacked 1,200 Confederates, and were 
repulsed and routed with a loss of seventy-six men, while 
Magruder had one man killed and seven wounded. 

Union Ascendancy in Western Virginia. — The mountainous 
and difficult character of western Virginia, and the Union 
preferences of a considerable part of the population, made 
it impossible for the Confederate forces sent thither to take 
possession of the country. General McClellan had the 
wealthy and populous States of Ohio and Indiana at his back, 
and, led by residents of the region along the shortest and 
easiest roads, was able with his greatly superior numbers, to 
outflank, surround, and force the Confederates from their 
fortified positions. 

Battle of Rich Mountain. — On July 11th General Rose- 
crans got in rear of the Confederate army on Rich Moun- 
tain, and after heavy fighting 
compelled it to abandon its in- 
trenched camp. In the retreat 
through the rough country 
where no food could be obtained, 
General R. S. Garnett, the com- 
mander, was killed; Colonel Pe- 
gram, second in command, was 
captured; and their forces were 
defeated and demoralized. Else- 
where there were some small 
Confederate successes; and Gen- 
eral H. A. Wise in the Kanawha 
Valley repulsed superior num- 
bers of Federal troops in several 
encounters. 

General Robert E. Lee Sent 
to Western Virginia. — After 
General Garnett's death. Gen- 
eral Robert E. Lee was sent to organize the Southern troops 
in western Virginia. Jealousy between subordinate com- 




B. 8. GABNKTT, VA. 



Lincoln's Administration, 1861. ' 371 

manders, however, added to the inaccessible country, the 
unfriendly people, the difficulty of obtaining supplies, and 
the constantly superior numbers of the enemy, combined to 
render even Lee's skill and efficiency unavailing; and, at the 
close of the campaign, the whole of nortwestern Virginia and 
the Kanawha Valley remained in possession of Federal troops. 

General Johnston at Harper's Ferry. — General Johnston, 
at Harper's Ferry, made strenuous efforts to organize and 
discipline the new troops sent to him from all parts of the 
South. To supply the deficiencies of accoutrements, the 
" manufacture of cartridge-boxes and belts was ordered in 
the neighboring towns and villages. Cartridges were made 
of powder, furnished by Governor Letcher, and lead found 
at the place or procured in the neighborhood. Caps in small 
quantities were smuggled from Baltimore. Caissons were 
constructed by fixing roughly made ammunition chests on 
the running parts of farm wagons. Horses and harness of 
various kinds for the artillery, and wagons and teams for 
field transportation, were collected in the surrounding coun- 
try; and the work of removing the machinery of the armory 
was continued." His work there thoroughly completed, 
Johnston evacuated Harper's Ferry on June 15th, and moved 
his army further up the Potomac, where he could more 
effectually check the advance of General Patterson. He 
then marched his forces backwards and forwards, and ma- 
neuvred them so that he made Patterson believe them many 
more than they really were. 

Impatience of the North. — After some weeks of inactivity, 
the North began to clamor that some forward movements 
should be made. To satisfy this demand for active opera- 
tions, 35,000 men under General McDowell were sent from 
Washington to force Beauregard from his position at Manas- 
sas, and then march upon Richmond. When this movement 
was ascertained. General Johnston was ordered to bring his 
men with all speed from the Valle}' to reinforce Beauregard 
at Manassas. Slipping away without Patterson's knowledge, 
Johnston hastened by forced marches across the Shenan- 
doah River and the Blue Ridge Mountains, and joined Beau- 
regard with part of his command on July 20th. 

Battle of First Manassas, 1861. — The Southern army. lay 
along the heights south of Bull Run, which they had 



872 



History of the United States. 



strengthened with earthworks. Beauregard's plan, to which 
Johnston agreed, was to move with his right against the 
enemy's left, so as to turn his flank, and get between him 
and Washington. But on the morning of the 21st, before 
this movement could be executed, the Federal army advanced 
and had to be met. McDowell threatened Beauregard's 
right strongly enough to detain the forces there, while his 
main army was pressed forward on the left in the hope of 
striking the Confederates on that flank, and getting posses- 
sion of the Manassas Gap Railroad. This movement of the 
Federal army, so contrary to the plans and expectations of 
the Confederate commanders, made it necessary for them to 
effect a new and difficult disposition of their forces, by taking 
a defensive position at right angles with bull Run and their 
original line. Their force, according to General Beaure- 
gard's Report, consisted of nearly 22,000 men of his own 
army, with 29 cannon; and 6,000 of Johnston's army with 
20 guns. Against these moved the Federal army of 35,000 
men with 49 guns. 

" Stonewall" Jackson at Manassas.— As soon as it was cer- 
tain that a strong attack was to be made on the Confederate 

left, the thin line of troops stationed 
there was strengthened by Johnston's 
6,000 soldiers and 20 cannon, mostly 
six-pounders, and here the battle 
raged fiercely throughout the hot 
summer day. Backwards and for- 
wards, upon the plateau around the 
Henry House, pressed and retreated 
the opposing brigades. The first ad- 
M vance of the Confederates was driven 
back by the superior numbers and 
heavier guns of the Union troops. 
Bee, in exhorting his weary and 
wounded South Carolinians to resist 
the oncoming columns of the enemy, pointed to some Vir- 
ginians under General T. J. Jackson just from the Shenan- 
doah Valley, with the exclamation, "There stands Jackson 
like a stone wall ! " Behind this living wall the retreating 
Caiplinians rallied bravely, but their heroic leader fell dead 
in their midst. Three times Rickett's splendid battery of 




BAKNARD 



Lincoln's Administration, ISOl. 



373 



United States artillery was captured by the Southerners and 
retaken by the Northern troops. From early morning until 
3 P. M., the struggle for the plateau above Young's Branch 
continued. 

General Kirby Smith's Advance. — Johnston's 6,000 men 
with less than 8,000 of the army of the Potomac, fought for 
five hours and had repulsed five ineffectual efforts of their 
assailants to drive them from the field. At 3 o'clock fresh 
Federal troops made another effort to flank the Confederates 




"there stands JACKSON LIKE A STONE WALL!" 

by pushing still farther to the right. But at this moment 
General Kirby Smith, with 1,700 men from the Valley, ar- 
rived most opportunely on the field. Hearing the heavy 
firing, General Smith had stopped the train which was carry- 
ing himself and men to Manassas Junction, and had taken 
the shortest course towards the battle. Rushing forward, 
these newcomers struck the Federal advance on its flank 
with a destructive musketry fire. The Federals had not ex- 
pected to meet with any resistance, and were surprised and 
alarmed to find a fresh body of troops opposing them. 
Rout of the Federal Army. — At this same time, a forward 



374 History of the United States. 

movement a] I along Beauregard's front succeeded in driving 
the Federals entirely from the plateau for which both sides 
had fought stoutly. A last effort to extend the Federal 
right was foiled by Early who came hurrying with three 
regiments from the other end of the Confederate lines. The 
assailing forces were everywhere driven back. The Confed- 
erates pressed hard upon them with the bayonet. Stuart 
and other cavalry leaders rode upon them with shouts 
and sabre cuts. The retreating host became panic-stricken 
and turned their retreat into a rout, which soon became a 
senseless, headlong flight. The Confederates had captured 
Rickett's and part of Griffin's batteries on the field. The 
fleeing soldiers now abandoned cannon, muskets, accoutre- 
ments, clothing, wagons, everything that could impede their 
progress. The only idea seemed to be to get away as fast as 
possible. At Centreville, General McDowell made a vain 
attempt to check the retreat, and to rally the fugitives 
behind the troops there held in reserve. But terror was 
stronger than discipline, and the fine army which had 
marched out from Washington with bands playing and ban- 
ners flying, accompanied by members of Congress and min- 
isters of the Gospel, eager to witness the destruction of the 
rebels and the capture of Richmond, poured back into the 
city, disorganized and demoralized. 

Losses in the Battle. — The losses of the Federal army m 
killed, wounded and missing, as taken from the Government 
War Records, were largely over 5,000 ; those of the Confed- 
erates, gathered from the same source, about 2,600. Lack of 
ammunition and provisions and the want of a strong cavalry 
force, prevented the Confederate generals from following up 
their victory by marching at once upon Washington before 
fresh soldiers could be gathered for its defence. Indeed, 
knowing their own weakness and want of supplies, and the 
immense resources of the North, the Southern leaders did 
not realize, until too late to take advantage of it, how com- 
plete and wonderful their success had been. 

Astonishment of the Country. — Astonishment at the result 
of the battle is seen in all the reports of it. General Mc- 
Dowell and his subordinate commanders thought that the 
enemy were finally repulsed at 3 o'clock, and found the 
panic-stricken retreat later on a strange mystery. General 



lAncoln's Administration, 1861. 375 

Johnston wrote : " The efficiency of our infantry and cavalry 
might have been expected from a patriotic people accus- 
tomed like ours to the management of arms and horses, but 
that of the artillery was little less than wonderful. They 
were opposed to batteries far superior in the number, range 
and equipment of their guns, with educated officers and 
thoroughly instructed soldiers. We had but one educated 
artillerist. Colonel Pendleton, that model of a Christian sol- 
dier, yet they exhibited as much superiority to the enemy 
in skill as iii courage." President Davis, coming with all 
speed to Manassas, was met at the Junction by a crowd of 
stragglers who assured him that his countrymen were de- 
feated ; but in a few hours he was able to telegraph to 
the anxious Southern land, what a great victory God had 
vouchsafed to their army. 

Actions of the Private Soldiers. — I might fill pages with 
the story of the gallant deeds performed on this wonderful 
battle-field, where beardless boys and gray-haired men fought 
side by side with the valor of trained and tried veterans. 
There were brave men and bold fighting in both armies. 
The cause of the unlooked-for success of the smaller and 
weaker Southern army is to be found in the earnest deter- 
mination of each soldier to defend his rights and his home 
to his utmost, even to the laying down of his life. General 
McDowell tells that his " three-month volunteers " refused 
to remain in the ranks one moment after their term of enlist- 
ment had expired, some of them even leaving the army at 
the very moment when their comrades were marching for- 
ward to the battle-field. 

Results of the Battle. — The immediate results of the bat- 
tle were important to both of the contending parties. Indig- 
nation and rage at the North stirred up the advocates of 
the war to greater exertion and more determined hatred of 
the South. At the South, an overweening confidence in its 
prowess and an unfounded contempt for the courage and 
skill of its enemies, produced a laxity of discipline and a 
decline of the enthusiasm which had at first urged all par- 
ties into the army. Materially the army around Manassas 
profited greatly; 29 splendid cannon with thousands of mus- 
kets, small arms, ammunition, stores, and supplies of all sorts 
were gathered from the battle-field, and served greatly to 



376 History of the United States. 

increase the efficiency of the troops, especially of the artil- 
lery. 

Acts of the United States Congress. — The United States 
Congress, which had met a few weeks before the battle 
of Manassas, ratified all President Lincoln's unconstitu- 
tional proclamations; authorized him to call out a half mil- 
lion of volunteers; provided for the great increase of the 
regular army and the navy; took measures for the building 
of ironclad ocean ships, and gun-boats for the rivers; raised 
the pay of the soldiers, and promised one hundred acres of 
land to each one at the close of the war; voted money for 
the purchase of arms; authorized the confiscation of pro- 
perty; assumed all the expenses incurred by the different 
States in raising and equipping troops; and, to sustain 
the cost of these measures, made provision for raising by 
taxation, imposts, and borrowing, the enormous sum of 
$500,000,000. 

Acts of the Confederate Congress. — The Confederate Con- 
gress, which also met in extra session in Richmond on July 
20th, authorized the raising of 400,000 soldiers; provided 
for the issue of $100,000,000 treasury notes, to be paid six 
months after a declaration of peace; issued the same amount 
of Confederate bonds ; passed various other laws to strengthen 
the government; and, in return for similar acts of the Fed- 
eral Congress, directed that enemies of the Confederacy 
should be banished from her soil and their property confis- 
cated. 

General McClellan Put in Command. — The weeks after the 
battle of Manassas were passed in preparations on both sides 
to profit by the laws and regulations for the increase and 
efficiency of the armies. General McDowell was superseded 
in command of the Army of the Potomac by General 
McClellan. 

Ball's Bluff, 1861. — But with all these preparations, no 
fighting of any material consequence was done in Virginia 
during the rest of this year. Crossing the Potomac at Ball's 
Bluff near Leesburg on October 21st, 1,700 Federal troops 
under Colonel Baker, a United States Senator from Oregon, 
were met by about the same number of Confederates under 
General N. G. Evans, and driven back into the river with 
the loss of nearly 1 ,000 men. The Confederates lost 156. The 



r 



,.45*MSf» 



^•f^ 




378 History of the United States. 

moral effect of this defeat to the Federal arms was serious 
enough to cause Mr. Stanton, Secretary of War in Washing- 
ton, to order General Stone, Colonel Baker's superior officer, 
into arrest and imprisonment. 

Restriction of the Press. — A general spirit of intolerance 
towards everything not in their favor characterized the party 
in power at the North, In addition to the proscription, im- 
prisonment, and confiscation of property exercised upon all 
those who were accused of favoring the " Rebellion," as the 
North designated the South 's effort to defend her rights, 
the " freedom of the press," always a great boast of Ameri- 
can citizens, was attacked and curtailed. On August 16th, 
a Grand Jury in New York requested power to indict and 
punish the New York " Journal of Commerce," the " News," 
and several other daily and weekly papers, because they 
spoke of the war as an " unholy war " and encouraged the 
" rebels to persevere in resistance " to the Government. In 
accordance with these views, the Postmaster-General directed 
that the offending papers should not be carried in the mails. 
Similar acts of oppression and suppression occurred during 
several years. 

General T. J. Jackson. — In the late fall. General Jack- 
son — Stonewall Jackson — was made a Major-General, and 
sent with his famous " Stonewall Brigade" and several others, 
to Winchester in the Valley of Virginia, which he was 
ordered to defend against the Federal advance from the 
north and west. General Jackson was a native of Clarks- 
burg in western Virginia. He was early left an orphan and 
very poor. But he worked and struggled, and finally secured 
a warrant to the United States Military Academy at West 
Point. His education had been so defective that the first 
year he stood at the foot of his class; but by diligence and 
hard study he rose so steadily that it was a saying among 
his class-mates, that if the course had lasted five years in- 
stead of four, he would have graduated head of the class. 
After distinguishing himself by his courage and skill in the 
Mexican War, where he was twice promoted on the field, he 
resigned from the army, and became a Professor in the Vir- 
ginia Military Institute at Lexington, Virginia. He was an 
ungraceful person of medium height and square figure, ab- 
rupt in manner and speech. But his peculiarities of deport- 



Lincoln's Administration, 1861. 879 

ment and character were counterbalanced by absolute integ- 
rity, unflinching courage, and a sincere and devout piety. 
Even those who ridiculed his angular movements and 
straight-laced opinions, acknowledged that he was an up- 
right, honorable gentleman. He became a Presbyterian 
elder and superintendent of a negro Sunday School, and 
was looked upon as a good, rather odd, but useful man. He 
was soon to prove himself a great soldier, very like to Oliver 
Cromwell in his earnest piety, his skill in commanding men, 
and his extraordinary military ability. 

AUTHORITIES.— Draper's History of the Civil War; Davis's? Rise and Fall of the 
Confederate Government; Pollard's Lost Cause; Johnston's Narrative; Ridpath's 
History of the United States; Appleton's Annual Cyclopedia; Battles and Leaders of 
the Civil War; Official Reports in Government War Records. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. Tell of the armies in Virginia. 2. Where was the first 
blood shed ? 3. Tell of Big Bethel. 4. Of the feeling in western Virginia. 
5. The battle of Rich Mountain. 6. Who was then sent to western Virginia ? 
7. What did General Johnston do at Harper's Ferry? 8. What was the feel- 
ing at the North ? 9. Tell of the first battle of Manassas. 10. Of " Stonewall 
Jackson" and General Bee. 11. Of General Kirby Smith's advance. 12. Of 
the rout of the Federal army. 13. Of the losses on both sides. 14. What 
was the feeling of the country in regard to the Jiattle ? 15. Relate the actions 
of the private soldiers. 16. The results of the battle. 17. What acts were 
passed by the Union Congress ? 18. By the Confederate Congress? 19. Who 
wasput in command of the Federal troops? 20. Tell of Ball's Bluff. 21. What 
action was taken against the press in the North ? 23. Give the life of General 
T. J. Jackson. 



CHAPTER LXVII. 

LINCOLN'S ADMINISTRATION, CONTINUED.— 1861 . 

Civil War in Missouri. — The efforts of Missouri and Ken- 
tucky to continue neutral and at peace between the contend- 
ing States on either side of them proved unavailing. Colo- 
nel Lyon, commanding the United States Arsenal near St. 
Louis, sent the arms in his charge into Illinois, and then 
attacked the camp where the militia of Missouri had as- 
sembled for their annual drill. A number of inoffensive 
citizens were killed and the State troops were overpowered. 
Civil war now burst out at many points in Missouri. The 
State was largely in sympathy with the Confederate States, 
and the governor and many who shared his opinions made a 
vain attempt to place it on friendly relations with the Con- 



380 



History of the United States. 




B. M'CULLOCH, TEXAS. 



federacy. The power of the United States exerted against 
them was in the end too strong for them. But now recruit- 
ing for both armies was carried on, and 
in many small skirmishes and engage- 
ments, the Southern sympathizers over- 
came the Union troops. To assist them 
and prevent the invasion of Arkansas, 
General Benjamin McCulloch crossed 
the Missouri line and united his Con- k, 
federate command with that of General 
Sterling Price, consisting of Missouri 
State troops. In a battle at Wilson's 
Springs not far from Springfield, on 
August 10th, where the opposing armies were about equal 
in number, the Federals were defeated, General Lyon Avas 
killed, and 1,000 prisoners and a number of cannon and 
small arms were captured. 

Missouri Neutral. — Other Confederate successes followed, 
and Missouri might have been won for the Confederacy if 
any adequate quantity of arms, ammunition, and supplies 
could have been furnished the volunteers who flocked to the 
Southern leaders. But this was impossible. The Govern- 
ment in Richmond had no means of complying with the 
incessant calls upon it for muskets, rifles, powder, cartridges, 
cannon, clothing and all things neces- 
sary for an efficient army ; and most 
of the victories gained at this time in 
the West were won with old-fashioned 
shotguns and hunting rifles. Their 
want of success in Missouri was vis- 
ited on the Federal generals. Harney 
had been superseded by Lyon, Fre- 
mont followed Lyon, and was in his 
turn displaced by Hunter ; and in 
November, General Halleck was given 
command of Missouri, Among the 
subordinate commanders in the De- 
partment was Brigadier-General U. S. Grant, who showed 
himself more efficient and cooler-headed than most of his 
colleagues. 

Kentucky's Position. — Aff"airs in Kentucky were in the 




H. W. HALLECK. 



Lincoln's Administration, 1S61. 



381 




ROBERT ANDERSON. 



same unsettled condition. Governor Magoffin made strong 
efforts to keep the State entirely neutral. The sympathies 
of the })eople were divided between the North and the Soutli, 
and they would gladly have preserved peaceful relations 
with both sides. The Government in Richmond was anx- 
ious to comply Y/ith the wishes of Kentucky, and again and 
again declared that they would send no troops into the State, 
if the Federal soldiers did not enter it. 
But the Federal Government would re- 
spect no neutral or other rights of a 
State. Early in July, orders were is- 
sued for raising regiments of United 
States troops in Kentucky, and not 
long after, the State was placed under 
the military control of General Robert 
Anderson, who had conducted the do- 
fence of Fort Sumter. The Confede- 
rate authorities then found it a military 
necessity to establish themselves at 
strong points in the State, in order to 
protect Tennessee and Virginia. 

Bishop Polk. — Among the noble men who had taken active 
part in the Southern movement was Bishop Leonidas Polk 

of Louisiana. He had been graduated 
with high honor at West Point, but 
had left the army to enter the ministry 
of the Protestant Episcopal Church. 
Knowing how righteous the cause of 
the South was, and how much she 
needed the assistance of all her sons. 
Bishop PoKt felt it his duty to offer 
his services in her defence. He did 
this the more readily because he was 
convinced that " the invasion of the 
South by the Federal armies had 
brought with it a contempt for con- 
stitutional liberty, and the withering influences of the infi- 
delity of New England and of Germany combined." Bishop 
Polk was at once commissioned as a Major-General and 
assigned to duty in that part of Alabama and Tennessee 
west of the Tennessee River. He soon after had the west- 



•7 




LEONIDAS POLK, LA. 



382 History of the United States. 

ern part of Kentucky added to his command, to which east- 
ern Missouri and Arkansas were also joined. 

Columbus and Paducah. — From the movements of the 
Federal forces in Missouri and at Cairo, General Polk be- 
came convinced that it was their intention to seize and fortif^^ 
Columbus. To forestall this and to obtain control of the 
Mississippi River between Kentucky and Missouri, General 
Polk took possession of the town on September 3d, and pro- 
ceeded to strengthen his position. Columbus was a most 
important point. It commanded the channel of the great 
river and the opposite shore of Missouri. While holding it, 
the Confederates could prevent the passage of any hostile 
vessels and were in position to cross their soldiers to or from 
Missouri. It was also General Polk's desire to seize Paducah 
at the mouth of the Tennessee River. But his force was too 
small to move at once; and before he could increase it. Gene- 
ral Grant, who was in command at Cairo, took possession of 
Paducah on September 16th. The resources of the Federal 
Government had enabled them to build gunboats, and to 
strengthen river steamboats with iron plates and cannon, 
so that they had the means of defending Paducah, and of 
making expeditions up the Tennessee and Cumberland 
Rivers, against which the Confederates were unable to con- 
tend. 

East Tennessee. — Eastern Tennessee had a large number 
of people who were, like the residents of western Virginia, 
opposed to the South, and in sympathy 
with those who wished to coerce her. 
To restrain hostility on the part of this 
disaffected element. General Zollicoffer 
had been sent by the Confederate au- 
thorities into East Tennessee. To pre- 
vent an advance by Federal troops he, 
too, felt obliged to pass through the 
Cumberland Mountains into eastern 
Kentucky. Soldiers were brought from 
„ „ „ ^„ ^„„„ Indiana and Ohio to check him, and 

p. K. ZOLLICOFFKR, TENN. ,. i • • i • 

there was a good deal of skirmishing 
and fighting. General Simon B. Buckner was given com- 
mand of the Confederate forces in central Kentucky. He 
concentrated his forces at Bowling Green, and the line from 




Lincoln's Administration, 1861. 383 

there to Columbus may be considered the northern line of 
defence of the Southern Confederacy. 

Battle of Belmont. — On November 7th was fought the battle 
of Belmont in Missouri opposite to Columbus. General Grant 
was ordered to make such demonstrations along the Missis- 
sippi River as would prevent Confederate troops from being 
sent to reinforce General Price in an advance from Arkansas. 
Grant, under cover of his gunboats, landed several thou- 
sand soldiers about seven miles above Belmont and marched 
upon the town, hoping to surprise the Confederate camp. 
He met with stout resistance. General Polk dispatched 
2,000 men across the river, and by the aid of this reinforce- 
ment, the Federals were driven to their boats. The fighting 
was gallant and the loss nearly equal on both sides. The 
victory was felt to be very important to the Southern cause, 
since it left the control of the Mississippi in the hands of the 
Confederates. The Congress in Richmond published a de- 
claration of thanks to the officers and men by whom it was 
won. 

Arizona and New Mexico. — During the summer and au- 
tumn, Arizona and New Mexico fell into possession of the 
Confederates, by the capture or surrender of the small gar- 
risons at the posts scattered here and there in the hills and 
plains. The Indians in the Indian Territory also came into 
friendly relations with the South, and several thousand of 
them at one time joined General Sterling Price's army. 

Southern Lack of Resources. — In the east there were few 
active operations after the victory at Manassas. Both sides 
were engaged in preparations for renewing the struggle on 
a larger scale. At the North all that was needed to furnish 
a completely equipped army was time and energy to develop 
the immense resources of the Federal Government. In the 
South, without a navy or merchant vessels, with few manu- 
factories, and no money or foreign credit, the difficulties of 
providing even the meagerest supplies of arms, ammuni- 
tion, clothing and food for efficient armies, would have over- 
whelmed hearts less brave and patriotic. But no means 
were left untried to furnish what was absolutely necessary 
for the maintenance of the soldiers, who had given and risked 
everything to defend their country. 



384 



History of the United States. 



McOlellan Supersedes General Scott. — General Scott re- 
signed the chief command of the United States army in Octo- 
ber, on account of his age and infirmities, and General 
George B. McClellan was made Commander-in-chief. Mc- 
Clellan was a fine organizer and a brave soldier, but he over- 
estimated the strength and resources of the South, and, in- 
stead of advancing upon Johnston, he occupied himself in 
increasing and equipping a huge army, partly for the de- 
fence of Washington, and partly for the capture of Rich- 
mond. 

Dupont Captures Port Royal, 1861. — Along the coast, the 
Confederates were weakened and the blockade was made 



■• ''J 




liOMBAKDMENT UF POKT EOYAL. 



more efficient by the capture of Fort Hatteras on the North 
Carolina coast on August 29th, and of Port Royal Harbor 
in South Carolina. This important harbor with its forts 
was held by Commodore Tatnall with a little Confederate 
squadron of eight vessels, so small as to be called " the mos- 
quito fleet." An attack was made on the forts and ships, 
November 7th, by Admiral Dupont, with eighteen war ves- 



Lincoln's Administration, 1861. 385 

sels and a fleet of transports carrying 15,000 soldiers. The 
larger size, greater number, and heavier cannon of the 
Federal ships overpowered the works and the small vessels 
defending the entrance to the harbor, which was seized and 
occupied by Dupont after stout resistance. This gave the 
blockading ships an admirable retreat from storms, and laid 
the whole of the South Carolina coast, with its wealthy and 
productive "sea islands," open to their ravages. 

The Manassas at the Mouth of the Mississippi. — A few 
weeks before this, an effort was made to destroy or disperse 
the fleet blockading the mouth of the Mississippi River. A 
river steamer had been converted into an ironclad boat 
with a stout iron beak. This "ram," called the Manassas, 
accompanied by seven small boats towing fire-ships, steamed 
down to the Federal fleet, rammed a hole in the side of one 
big ship, turned the fire-ships loose among the others, and 
spread such consternation that the whole fleet stood out to 
sea. The Manassas itself had very poor machinery, and 
suffered so much in ramming the Richmond, that it was una- 
ble to attack the other vessels. The blockading fleet was re- 
inforced and returned to its former position, and nothing im- 
portant was accomplished by the effort. 

Captain Wilkes and The Trent. — England and France 
had acknowledged the Confederate States as " a belligerent 
power," and had declared themselves " neutral " in the war 
between them and the Federal Government. To propitiate 
them and secure favor and recognition as independent, the 
Confederate Government had sent James M. Mason of Vir- 
ginia and John Slidell of Louisiana as Commissioners, the 
first to England and the latter to France, to see what could 
be done for the advantage of the South. These gentlemen, 
accompanied by their secretaries, ran the blockade from 
Charleston to Havana, at the very time that Dupont was at- 
tacking Port Royal. At Havana they took passage for 
Europe on the English mail steamer Trent. By the law of 
nations, they were safe from molestation on a neutral vessel. 
But law was not of very much force at this time among 
Federal officers. Captain Charles Wilkes, who had com- 
manded an exploring expedition of which I have told yo\x, 
was in the neighborhood of Havana in command of the 
steam warship San Jacinto. He learned that the Confeder- 
24 



386 History of the United States. 

ate Commissioners would sail on the Trent, lay in wait for 
her, fired across her course, and stopped her. An officer 
and a party of men then boarded the Trent and, in spite of the 
protests of her commander and his officers, arrested Messrs. 
Mason, Slidell, McFarland, and Eustis, and took them forci- 
bly off the ship. 

Threatened Trouble With England. — For this affront to 
the British flag and violation of international law, Captain 
Wilkes was feted and toasted, and received public thanks 
and a gold medal from the House of Representatives. Eng- 
land, however, was justly indignant at this " outrage " of 
her neutral rights. She demanded the liberation of the 
prisoners and their restoration to British protection, and 
intimated that, if this was refused, serious difficulty between 
the nations would be the consequence. The people of the 
North were eager to uphold Wilkes. In the South, it was 
hoped that they would do so. A contest between England 
and the Government at Washington must have been to the 
Confederate advantage. But Mr. Lincoln and his Secretary 
of State, Mr. Seward, were too wise to incur a war with Eng- 
land at so critical a time. They would not acknowledge 
that Wilkes had been guilty of violating international law, 
but they said truly that he had acted solely on his own re- 
sponsibility, without orders from his Government, and they 
at once agreed to liberate the prisoners who had been con- 
fined in Fort Warren, in Boston Harbor, and to deliver them 
to Lord Lyons, the British Minister at Washington. This 
was done at the beginning of the next year. The Commis- 
sioners proceeded to Europe, but could efi'ect little for the 
Confederate States. 

AUTHORITIES.— Draper's History of the Civil War; General Grant's Memoirs; Life 
of Albert Sidney Jolmston by William Preston Johnston; Memoir of Leonidas Polk 
by his son; Ridpath's History of the United States; Reports and Correspondence; 
Offlcial Records of the War; Appleton's Encyclopedia; Battles and Leaders of the 
Civil War. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. Tell of the civil strife in Missouri. 2. Who were the com- 
manders ? ?>. What was the position of Kentucky ? 4. Tell of Bishop Polk. 
5. Of his movements on the Mississippi. 6. What of East Tennessee ? 7. De- 
scribe the battle of Belmont. 8. What was done in Arizona and New Mexico ? 
9. What were the needs of the South ? 10. Who now became Commander-in- 
chief of the Union army? 11. What Southern port was taken? 12. De- 
scribe the bombardment. 13. What attempt was made at the mouth of the 
Mississippi? 14. Tell of the T'rf/^i affair. 15. llow was it settled ? 



CHAPTER LXVIII. 

LINCOLN'S ADMINISTRATION, CONTINUED.— 1862. 

Mr. Lincoln's Order, 1862. — This year opened with cold 
stormy weather. It seemed impossible to persuade General 
McClellan to advance. The opponents of the administra- 
tion and the war began to clamor again at the immense ex- 
pense to which the North was subjected without results. 
Taking counsel of no one, Mr. Lincoln astonished his coun- 
try and his generals by issuing, on January 27th, an order 
that on the 22d of February all the Federal armies every- 
where should "advance against the enemy. This was an im- 
possibility, but in Kentucky and Tennessee the order had 
been forestalled. 

ZoUicoffer Killed at Mill Spring. — In eastern Kentucky, the 
Federals had become so strong and threatening that General 
ZoUicoffer felt it a necessity to try to defeat the force in 
front of him at Mill Spring, before it could receive the rein- 
forcements approaching. Unfortunately, he was killed early 
in the fight, and the Confederates, discouraged by the death 
of their leader, were defeated with severe loss of men and 
guns. ZoUicoffer was an excellent 
officer. His loss was a great one to 
the South, and the defeat of his army 
left eastern Tennessee open to the 
Union armies which were not slow to 
occupy it. 

Forts Henry and Donelson. — In west- 
ern Kentucky, also, affairs went badly 
for the Southern cause. General Polk 
still held control of the Mississippi 
River from his strong position at 
Columbus. General Albert Sidney 
Johnston, commander of all the Con- 
federate forces in the West, had his 

1 J , i. T5 T /-< r> A. S. JOHNSTON, TEX. 

headquarters at Bowling Green. Be- 
tween him and Polk ran the Cumberland and Tennessee 
Rivers. The Federals held the mouths of these rivers, and 

[387] 




388 History of tlie United States. 

had collected a fleet of ironclad gunboats and transports 
for troops, with which they hoped to penetrate the heart of 
the Confederacy. To prevent this, Fort Henry had been 
built on the eastern bank of the Tennessee River, and Fort 
Donelson on the western bank of the Cumberland, in Ten- 
nessee, just below the Kentucky line, where the rivers are 
not more than twelve miles apart. Both were earthworks 
pretty strong on the water front but weaker on the land 
side. Fort Henry was much the smaller, and was held by 
about 2,200 men with 17 cannon. 

Capture of Fort Henry. — On February 6th, Commodere 
Foote with seven gunboats steamed up the Tennessee and 
attacked Fort Henry. The torpedoes placed in the stream, 
on which the Confederates had relied to destroy the Federal 
fleet, proved defective. The gunboats halted at a conve- 
nient distance and poured a storm of cannon shot and shell 
into the fort. Several of the larger guns defending it burst, 
and General Tilghman found it impossible to continue the 
fight. The attacking land forces which were expected to 
co-operate with the gunboats could not do so on account of 
swollen creeks, and most of the garrison made its escape to 
Fort Donelson before General Tilghman lowered his flag and 
surrendered himself and sixty men. The opening of the 
Tennessee River was a tremendous blow to the South. Sev- 
eral of the Federal gunboats proceeded up the river as far 
as Florence, Alabama, destroying bridges and Confederate 
property, and making it clear that the way would soon be 
open for the advance of the Union army into the Gulf 
States. 

Position of Fort Donelson. — Nashville, Tennessee, was of 
vast importance to the ConfederateSj for valuable stores of all 
sorts had been collected there. Its capture would be disas- 
trous to them and of great encouragement to the Union 
cause. But, before that, Fort Donelson must be evercome. 
General Albert Sidney Johnston was therefore most anxious 
to hold it, and sent thither reinforcements to the number of 
14,000 under Generals Buckner, Pillow, and Floyd, the last 
having brought his force from western Virginia, after find- 
ing himself unable to hold out against General Rosecrans. 
Donelson was much larger and stronger than Henry, and 
was well defended by earthworks and heavy batteries. On 



Lincoln's AdTninistration, 1862. 389 

the land side there was also, at some distance, an encircling 
line of breastworks and rifle-pits, the interval between them 
and the fort being made diflficult with an abatis — forest trees 
cut down and falling one upon another with their branches 
pointing outward. Against this strong position General 
Grant moved, on February 12th, with some 17,000 men. 
He found it too formidable to be taken by assault, and waited 
during the 13th for reinforcements, and the co-operation of 
the gunboats, but kept up a harassing and destructive artil- 
lery fire in the mean time, the sharp-shooters on both sides 
picking off every man they could reach. Late in the day, 
an attempt was made to capture the batteries on the extrem- 
ities of the line, which was defeated by the Confederates with 
heavy Union loss. The weather now became very cold, and 
a severe storm of snow and sleet set in. The soldiers on 
both sides suffered greatly from exposure, and many of the 
wounded were frozen to death during the night. 

The Attack. — On the 14th, the Federal reinforcements 
and gunboats both reached the scene of action. The fort 
was invested, and an attack by the fleet was first determined 
upon. The Confederate water batteries were powerful and 
ably served, and they beat off the gun- 
boats in an hour and a half, striking them 
150 times and severely wounding Com- 
modore Foote. Assaults on the breast- 
works were also repulsed, and General 
Grant seemed no nearer success than be- 
fore. But the Confederate commanders 
knew that it would be impossible for them 
to maintain their position long against the 
heavy force which could be brought to at- ^•^•^"^nt.u.s.a. 
tack them, both on the river and the land. Floyd, the rank- 
ing officer, thought it best to abandon the fort, attack the 
besieging army, and cut their way to Nashville. At a coun- 
cil of war held on the night of the 14th, this plan was 
una-nimously adopted. 

Gallant Fighting. — At early dawn of the 15th, Pillow*s 
men and Forrest's cavalry advanced upon McClernand, 
who held the Federal right and the principal road to Nash- 
ville. Buckner moved from their left and also attacked the 
Federal centre. The fi-ghting was gallant on both sides, but 




390 



History of the United States. 




LEW WALLACE, U.S.A. 



inch by inch, the Northern line was forced back. By nine 
o'clock their whole right wing was driven from its position, 

and the road to Nashville was 
cleared. Floyd, who was in com- 
mand, thought his success assured 
and so telegraphed to General 
Albert Sidney Johnston . But the 
fresh troops of Lew Wallace came 
to McClernand's aid, and General 
Grant, who had gone to consult 
with Foote on his vessel, returned 
to the field, took command and 
ordered an advance all along his 
line. In this second encounter 
of the troops, the superior num- 
bers of the besiegers proved the 
stronger ; Smith, on their left, 
carried the breastworks in his 
front, and the Confederates were driven back to the shelter 
of their works. Again night came on with intense cold. 
Both sides slept on their arms, and suffered from cold, hunger, 
and fatigue. General Grant determined to renew the as- 
sault on the next morning, Sunday the 16th. 

Surrender of Fort Donelson. — Meantime, within the fort 
there was anxious consultation. All urged that to maintain 
their position was impossible. Buckner advised surrender, 
to save useless loss of life. Floyd thought it necessary, but, 
determined to save himself and his Virginia brigade, turned 
over the command to Pillow, and crossing the river in the 
darkness, made his escape with his command. Pillow fol- 
lowed his example. Forrest's cavalry also moved off during 
the night. General Buckner, upon whom the responsibility 
devolved by his superior officers deserting their posts, felt 
that he could no longer hold his beleaguered position ; and 
before the Federal attack could be renewed, on the morning 
of the 16th, he sent a flag of truce to General Grant, asking 
what terms of surrender would be accorded the garrison. 
To this Grant replied that "unconditional surrender" alone 
would prevent a re-opening of the fight. Buckner was forced 
to submit to this demand, and Donelson, with from 10,000 



Lincoln's Administration, 1862. 391 

to 14,000 prisoners, all the guns, several thousand horses 
and considerable stores, passed into Grant's hands. 

Its Results. — The fall of Donelson was a great cause of 
rejoicing to the Northern people, who felt that b}^ this vic- 
tory their rout at Manassas was repaid. To the South it 
was a tremendous misfortune. The army occupying west- 
ern Kentucky had to be withdrawn, and the strong fortress 
at Columbus, which had been called " the Gibraltar of the 
West," was of necessity evacuated. Within a week after the 
capture of Donelson, Nashville with its accumulation of 
stores was occupied by General Buell, and the garrison of 
Columbus was removed to Island No. 10, forty miles lower 
down the Mississippi, where the defence of the river was 
maintained for one month longer. The whole of Tennessee 
was for a time in possession of the Federal army. At the 
beginning of the campaign. General Halleck had under his 
command about 100,000 men, while Johnston's force did not 
number over 55,000, scattered along his extended front ; and 
this smaller number had been greatly lessened by the losses 
in battle and captures at Donelson, and by the straggling 
and desertion which always weakens a discouraged and re- 
treating army. 

Battle of Pea Ridge, or Elkhorn. — Nevertheless, General 
Johnston and his subordinate commanders, by great exer- 
tion assembled, about 35,000 troops near Corinth in north- 
ern Mississippi, early in April. He hoped for reinforce- 
ments from Arkansas, but the advance of General Cur- 
tis into that State made it neces- 
sary for General Van Dorn, the 
Confederate commander, to con- 
centrate his forces to repel the in- 
vasion. Collecting about 16,,000 
men under Generals Sterling Price 
and Ben McCulloch, with 4,000 In- 
dians from the Choctaw and Chero- 
kee reservations under General 
Albert Pike, Van Dorn marched to 
meet Curtis in the northwestern 
part of the State. On the 6th of 
March, in spite of severe snowy weather and rough coun- 
try, he succeeded in getting into the rear of Curtis's in- 




N. 



ALBEl.T 1 IKL, il k. 



392 History of ilie United States. 

trenched j^osition on Pea Ridge, where he attacked him 
on the morning of the 7th. The fight was gallant on both 
sides. The Confederates, on the left, drove the Union troops 
opposed to them, forcing them back nearly a mile ; in the 
centre, however, they were less successful, and had the mis- 
fortune to lose their brave leaders Generals McCulloch and 
Mcintosh, while General Price was severely wounded. Both 
sides slept on the field, but when the battle was renewed the 
next morning, General Van Dorn found his troops disheart- 
ened by the loss of their generals, and unable to maintain 
their position. He therefore fell back slowly carrying all of 
his artillery and baggage. This battle was called Pea Ridge 
by the Federals, Elkhorn by the Confederates. 

Battle of Shiloh; Death of Albert Sidney Johnston, 1862. — 
By April 3rd, General Grant with 38,000 troops was well 
posted at Pittsburg Landing on the south bank of the Ten- 
nessee River, where they were protected by their gunboats. 
General Buell was known to be coining to join Grant with 
a force equal to his own. General Johnston determined to 
attack Grant on the early morning of the 5th. General 
Beauregard was second in command, while the army corps 
were led by Generals Bragg, Hardee, Polk, and Breckinridge. 
Heavy rains swelled the streams and made the marching so 
difficult that the attacking forces could not get into posi- 
tion until the night of the 5th. On the morning of the 6th, 
the Confederate army moved upon General Grant and his 
subordinate generals, Sherman, McClernand, Hurlbut, Pren- 
tiss, and W. H. L. Wallace, who held positions around 
Shiloh Church. The front line was soon carried. Prentiss 
with 3,000 men was captured. General W. H. L. Wallace 
was killed, and the Confederates everywhere pressed back 
the Federals, notwithstanding a stout resistance. By two 
o'clock the victory seemed assured, but at this important 
moment. General Johnston, who had exposed himself con- 
stantly in the hottest part of the fight, was struck in the 
thigh with a minie-ball while leading his troops. A great 
artery was cut. There was no surgeon near, and the gallant 
soldier was lifted from his horse and carried to the shelter 
of a ravine where he died in a little while. His loss was 
irretrievable to the army of the South. 

End of the Battle. — The Southern troops were kept in 



Lincoln's Administration, 180i 



393 



ignorance of the death of the commander in whom they 
had the greatest confidence, and General Beauregard for a 
while carried on the contest. But he was sick and could 
not press his advantage to the utmost before his enemy- 
could receive' reinforcements. The Federal army had been 
driven to the bank of the river and the shelter of their gun- 
boats; but there was still an hour of daylight, the Southern 
army was flushed with victory, and only another vigorous 
assault upon the demoralized enemy was necessary to drive 
him into the water or compel him to surrender. At this 
time, when absolute victory seemed within the Confederate 
grasp, the gunboats opened fire with cannon shot and shell. 
The Confederates were sheltered from this by the height of 
the bluff, and became less and less exposed as they neared 
the enemy ; but Beauregard took the impression that his 
men were in an exhausted condition, and exposed to mur- 
derous fire, and ordered them to be withdrawn from the field. 
They had captured most of Grant's artillery, a number of 
flags, and thousands of prisoners, and they occupied the 
camp from which the Federals had been driven. On the 
strength of this, Beauregard telegraphed to Richmond that 
he had " gained a complete victory." But during the night 
Buell came up with as many fresh troops as the Southern 
army contained, so that he outnumbered them nearly two 
to one. The fight was re- 
newed by an attack upon 
the Southerners, who were 
gradually driven from the 
position they had taken the 
day before to their original 
place. This was the bloodi- 
est battle that had yet 
been fought. The Con- 
federates lost 10,699 men, 
the Federals 13,573. 

Fall of Island No. 10.— 
Island No. 10, with its strong 
armament of guns and gar- 

^ n i-rr. r\ SPIKING GtJNS AT ISLAND NO. 10. 

rison of 6,7 00 men, was 

taken on April 8th, the day after Shiloh, by Commodore 

Foote and his gunboats. The upper Mississippi, the Ten- 




394 History of the United &t.ates. 

nessee, and the Cumberland Rivers were thus opened to 
these bearers of destruction and terror. 

AUTHORITIES.— Draper's History of the Civil War; General Grant's Memoirs; 
Life of Albert Sidney Johnston by William Preston Johnston ; Memoirs of Leonidas 
Polk by his son ; Ridpath's History of the United States ; Reports and Correspondence; 
Official Records of the War; Battles and Leaders of the Civil War. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. What was President Lincoln's order in 1863? 2. Tell of 
the battle of Mill Spring, and General Zollicoffer's death. 3. AVhere were 
Forts Heniy and Douelson ? 4. Relate the capture of Fort IIenr}\ 5. De- 
scribe the position of Fort Donelson. 6. The attack upon it. 7. Who were 
the commanders on both sides? 8. What was the result? 9. The effect on 
the Confederate cause? 10. Tell of the battle of Pea Ridge, or Elkhorn. 
11. The battle of Shiloh. 12. What great general was killed there ? 13. How 
did the battle end ? 14. What was the effect of the taking of Island No. 10? 
15. Look up all the places. 



CHAPTER LXIX. 

LINCOLN'S ADMINTSTRA TION, CONTINUED.— 1862. 

Jackson at Bath and Romney. — In the east the year opened 
by the advance of Jackson from Winchester to tlie north 
and northwest. The weather was bitterly cold, and the 
rocky roads covered with snow. But, knowing that on 
account of the difficulty of moving an army he would not 
be expected, Jackson began the series of rapid marches 
which afterwards gave his soldiers the title of '' Foot cavalry." 
He first moved to the Potomac where he destroyed some 
dams of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, tore up the Balti- 
more and Ohio Railroad, and so frightened the people of 
Maryland with a threat of invasion that reinforcements were 
speedily sent to oppose him. Having accomplished his 
object, Jackson moved in the night, turned his course west- 
ward, and, crossing two mountain ranges, struck the Federal 
camp at Romney and drove all the enemy from that region, 
making some important captures. He then returned to 
Winchester wdth his soldiers in fine spirits, notwithstanding 
the hardships of their brief campaign, their suffering from 
hunger and cold, and their frost-bitten ears, fingers, and toes. 

Stringent Blockade. — The order for a general Federal ad- 
vance had been anticipated by the capture, on February 8th, 



Lincoln's Administration, 1862. 395 

of Roanoke Island, a very important Confederate position 
lying between Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds, on the coast 
of North Carolina. To make the blockade as stringent as 
possible, and prevent Confederate supplies being brought in 
from Europe in return for Confederate cotton, immense 
efforts were made all along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. 
With the markets of the world open to the United States; 
with her navy yards furnished with the best materials and ma- 
chinery, and an unlimited number of workmen ; with her large 
workshops for making arms and munitions of war, it was a 
necessity that she should in time overwhelm and overpower 
the' seceded States wherever the contest had to be waged on 
the water. They had no navy nor provision for building ships. 
The armament for such vessels as they had and for their 
forts, was old-fashioned, weak, and defective. Occasionally 
a few good guns were run into some port, and the defects of 
the equipment for the troops in the field were remedied after 
a great victory. But, to the very end, the disproportion be- 
tween the men and materials on the two sides continued 
almost incredible. 

Capture of Roanoke Island and Other Ports. — To capture 
Roanoke Island which was held by 3,000 men, a little squad- 
ron of eight small gunboats under Captain Lynch, and such 
defences as could be made by forts on the flat surface of the 
island and by sunken boats and piles driven into the shal- 
low water, a force was dispatched from Hampton Roads con- 
sisting of more than a hundred vessels, some ol fchem strong 



FUia PLLASKI, GA. 

war ships with heavy guns, and others transports carrying 
16,000 men. It was impossible for the garrison and forts on 
Roanoke Island to withstand an attack from such a superior 
assailant. They fought gallantly but were at length overcome 
by sheer force of numbers, and the island and its defences fell 



396 History of the United States. 

into the hands of Commodore Goldsborough and General 
Burnside. This victory gave the whole of Albemarle Sound 
to the Federals, and left the southeastern part of Virginia to 
their mercy. Other successes along the coast followed. Fort 
Pulaski, defending the entrance to Savannah, and Fort Ma- 
con at the mouth of the harbor of Beaufort, South Carolina, 
New Berne in North Carolina, and several harbors on tlie 
Florida coast, were seized by the Northern war vessels. By 
these captures, the places of refuge for the daring ships which 
still ventured to run the blockade weregreatly diminished, and 
tlie danger of capture from the blockading fleets was largely 
increased. On the South Carolina coast, there were impor- 
tant Confederate successes — at Secessionville where 6,000 
Federal troops were beaten off, in June; and at Pocotalico in 
October, where an attempt to seize the railroad was defeated. 
The Ram Virginia. — But this gloomy prospect was pierced 
by a bright beam of light from the harbor at Norfolk, Va. 
Amongthe vessels in the Gosport Navy Yard 
when it was abandoned by the United States, 
was a fine steani frigate, the Merrimac, which 
was scuttled and sunk. This excellent ship 
was raised from the water by the Confede- 
rates and remodelled by them upon a new 
plan devised by .John Mercer Brooke, who 
had invented the deep-sea sounding appara- 
tus. Her decks were cut down so that she 
could be roofed over somewhat in the shape of a tortoise. 
This roof and her sides were covered by thick iron plates 
impervious to shot, she was furnished with ten heavy guns, 
and had a strong iron beak affixed to her bow. On the 8th 
of March, this ram, which was called the Virginia, accom- 
panied by two small gunboats, steamed out of Norfolk Har- 
bor into Hampton Roads, and made straight for the Federal 
fleet. The shot and shell hurled at the strange looking 
craft glanced harmlessly from her iron sides. Firing her 
guns, she swept down upon the large wooden frigate Cumber- 
land, whose side was struck with such force that, in less than 
an hour, she sank in fifty feet of water, with the loss of 
nearly half her crew. The Virginia next made for the fri- 
gate Congress, which escaped being "rammed" by going into 
shallow water, but was forced to surrender and was burned. 
The Minnesota and other Federal ships also sought safety in 




Lincoln's Administration, 1862. 



397 



water not deep enough for the Virginia to follow them, but 
they suffered severely from her heavy guns and those of the 
other gunboats. 

The Virginia and the Monitor. — This sudden onslaught 
and destruction of their vessels spread consternation through- 
out the North, where all the seaboard towns seemed to ex- 
pect immediate attack. The next morning, the Virginia 
appeared again among the Federal fleet, hoping to destroy 
the Minnesota first and then the rest. But this time she was 
met by a boat even stronger than herself. This was the 
Monitor, an iron structure built by Ericsson, which had come 
into Hampton Roads during the night. Her appearance, 





"YIKl.INIA ■ AXrAClvINc. TllK lEDKllAl 



with her revolving iron turret upon her flat top, was de- 
scribed as " a cheese box on a plank." But she was very 
strong, and, as the guns in her turret could easily be pointed 
in any direction, she was more manageable than the Virginia. 
Some injury upon the other ships was again inflicted by the 
heavy guns, but neither of the iron vessels could effect 
serious harm to the other, and the Virginia again returned to 
Norfolk. This was the first battle ever fought between iron- 
clad ships, and its results changed the mode of naval war- 



398 History of the United States. 

fare all over the world. The Virginia had not accomplished 
all that the South had hoped, but her presence in the Nor- 
folk harbor kept James River safe from hostile vessels; 
while the success of the Monitor quieted the anxieties of the 
Northern cities. Orders were at once given that other mon- 
itors and iron ships should be built as fast as possible. Want 
of safe harbors and of materials prevented the Confederates 
from constructing other rams like the Virginia. 

McClellan Follows Johnston. — The spring of 1862 was an 
anxious time for the Southern military authorities. Most 
of the troops had enlisted only for twelve months, and their 
term of service had nearly expired. Every effort was made 
to secure abundant re-enlistment for three years or for the 
war. Johnston's army, at Centreville, dwindled to 30,000 
men, while McClellan at Washington had collected 120,000, 
To secure his insufficient force against sudden attack, Gen- 
eral Johnston quietly withdrew his forces behind the Rappa- 
hannock, where he had caused strong earthworks to be 
thrown up. When McClellan did move forward, on March 
10th, he found the Confederate camps deserted and the 
army beyond his reach, with the bridges over which they 
had passed destroyed. To follow them through the deep 
spring mud he declared impossible, especially as he had de- 
termined to attack Richmond in another direction. 

Battle of Kernstown. — Stonewall Jackson was in the Val- 
ley with a few thousand men. He left Winchester on March 
5th to fall back as Johnston was doing. Being ordered to 
take some steps to detain Shields's and Banks's army in his 
front and keep it from strengthening McClellan, Jackson 
retraced his steps, and, on the 23d of March, with only 2,747 
men attacked the Federal army, more than double his own, 
at Kernstown near Winchester. He was obliged to draw off 
his troops at nightfall and retire, but he did so much dam- 
age and created such alarm at Washington that reinforce- 
ments were sent to Banks, and the danger of his marching 
upon Johnston was averted. So important was this result 
felt to be that the Confederate Congress passed a vote of 
thanks to Jackson for his gallant fight at Kernstown. 

McClellan and Johnston about Yorktown. — For some time, 
it could not be seen exactly where McClellan intended to 
strike at Richmond. He wanted to go down to Fortress 



Lincoln's Administration, IS 02. 399 

Monroe, while President Lincoln wished him to move by 
Fredericksburg. In the mean time, General Johnston 
marched to the neighborhood of Richmond, and as soon as 
it was discovered that McClellan had taken his own way 
and was transporting his army to Fortress Monroe, Johnston 
moved to Yorktown which Magruder had strongly forti- 
fied. These long marches under the drenching spring rains, 
over the heavy, muddy Virginia roads, were excessively ex- 
hausting to both men and horses, but the spirit of the sol- 
diers was fine, and they plodded on, determined to do their 
best to defend their rights. 

Fight at Williamsburg". — It took one month to move Mc- 
Clellan's 120,000 men from Washington in 400 vessels of all 
kinds to Fortress Monroe, and a good part of another to lay 
siege to Yorktown, which he proposed to capture before pro- 
ceeding to Richmond by way of the York River Railroad. 
For various reasons, General Johnston determined to discon- 
cert this plan and withdraw his forces again to Richmond. 
His troops quietly evacuated Yorktown, after spiking the 
guns they could not move, and took up their march to- 
wards Richmond. Their retreat was followed by the enemy, 
and a severe engagement took place at Williamsburg on May 
5th. The Confederates held their ground long enough to 
allow their artillery and wagon trains to get safely away, 
and then drew back in good order. 

Federal Ships in the James. — The giving up of the penin- 
sula and the necessity for increasing Johnston's army, 
made it impossible to hold Norfolk. The troops there were 
ordered to Richmond. The war vessels in the Navy Yard 
moved up James River, the Confederate property was de- 
stroyed, and Norfolk was soon in possession of a Federal 
force. It was hoped that the Virginia could be gotten up to 
Richmond at high tide by the aid of tugboats, but the water 
proved too shallow. She grounded at Craney Island and 
her commander, Commodore Tatnall, blew her up on May 
11th, to prevent her falling into the enemy's hands. Her 
destruction left James River open to the Federal gunboats, 
and several ironclads at once steamed up towards Rich- 
mond, among them the Galena and the Monitor. At Drewry's 
Bluff, eight miles below Richmond, they found their ad- 
vance stopped by obstructions in the river and heavy bat- 



400 History of the United States. 

teries on shore. The guns from Fort Darling seriously in 
jured the vessels, while they in their turn, could do little 
damage to the fortifications on the high bluff. Finding 
their efforts to pass up the river unavailing, the fleet with- 
drew to City Point. 

Seven Pines, or Fair Oaks. — By the last of May, McClel- 
lan had brought his army by way of West Point to the 
neighborhood of Richmond, where they stretched for miles 
on both sides of the Chickahominy, and where he proceeded 
to throw up heavy earthworks. The season was rainy, and 
the Chickahominy w^as so swollen that the swamps became 
almost impassable. Taking advantage of this, General John- 
ston, on May 31st, attacked the two corps of Keyes and 
Heintzelman which were on the south side of the stream, 
hoping to destroy them before reinforcements could come to 
their aid. The same rains which were to cut off" his ene- 
mies, rendered his own advance so slow that, before his ob- 
ject could be effected, reinforcements had come to assist the 
badly beaten United States troops, and the victory was ren- 
dered incomplete. The loss was great on both sides, but 
that of the Federals was the heavier, in men, arms and stores 
of all sorts. About seven o'clock in the evening, General 
Johnston received a severe wound which disabled him for 
many months. This battle was known as Seven Pines b)^ 
the Southern, and as Fair Oaks, by the Northern army. 

General Robert E. Lee. — The command of the Army of 
Northern Virginia, as the army defending Richmond was 
now called, was given to General Robert E. Lee, who, from 
this time, became the most prominent figure in the great 
strife. General Lee was the youngest son of ''Light Horse 
Harry Lee" of Revolutionary fame. He was graduated with 
high honors at West Point, distinguished himself by his 
courage and skill during the Mexican War, and had after- 
wards been employed in various responsible military posi- 
tions. He was conceded to be the equal, if not the superior, 
of any other man in the service, and had been so repeatedly 
promoted as to make him the natural successor to General 
Scott as head of the United States Army. He was devoted 
to his country and really loved the Union. But, like most 
Southerners, he felt that his first and highest allegiance was 
to his State, and when Virginia withdrew from the Union, 




0x:^^'%X ^ 









402 History of the United States. 

Lee at once threw in his lot with her. He resigned his com- 
mission in the United States Army, and offered his services 
and his sword to his native State. The ensuing pages will 
show what a noble man and great soldier he proved him- 
self to be. 

AUTHORITIES.— Draper's History of the Civil War; Reports and Correspondence 
in Official War Records ; Ridpath's History of the United States ; J. E. Johnston's Nar- 
rative; Dabney's Life of T.J. Jackson; Allen's Jackson's Valley Campaign; Long's 
Life of Robert E. Lee; Fitz Lee's Memoir of General Robert E. Lee; Pollard's Lost 
Cause; Davis's Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government; Stepliens's History 
of the United States; Battles and Leaders of the Civil War; Taylor's Four Years witli 
Lee. 

QUESTIONS. — 1. What title did Jackson's soldiers acquire by their rapid 
marching ? 2. Tell of their exploits on the Potomac. 3. Describe the strin- 
gent blockade. 4. The capture of Roanoke Island. 5. Where is it? 6. What 
other forts were also taken? 7. What was the Virginia, and what did she 
do ? 8. Tell of the fight between the Virginia and the Monitor. 9. What was 
McClellan's move in the spring ? 10. What victory did Jackson gain in the 
Valley? 11. Tell of Johnston and McClellan about Yorktown. 12. The 
fight at Williamsburg. 13. What was the fate of the Virginia and the results 
of her destruction? 14. Describe the battle of Seven Pines, or Fair Oaks. 

15. Who now was made eommajider of the Army of Northern Virginia? 

16. Give a sketch of him. 



CHAPTER LXX. 

LINCOLN'S ADMINISTRATION, CONTINUED.— 186^. 

Jackson in the Valley, 1862. — Before we take up the story 
of Lee's campaigns, we must give attention once more to 
Jackson in the Valley. After the fight at Kernstown, his 
little Confederate army was posted in Swift Run Gap in the 
Blue Ridge, where the business of re-enlisting and reorgan- 
izing his men was attended to, and whence 
he could, through his trusty scouts, watch 
the movements and divine the intentions 
of the enemy. He soon perceived that three 
armies were moving against him in differ- 
ent directions with the design of surround- 
ing and destroying him. Milroy was com- 
ing in on the west, along the Valley behind 
K. JOHNS N, . ^^^ North Mountains. Banks held Win- 
chester and the main Valley, while Fremont from the north- 
west and Shields from the east were advancing to the Valley. 




Lincohi's Administration, 1862. 403 

Jackson had been reinforced by Ewell and Edward Johnson, 
and had in all about 15,000 men, while the aggregate force 
moving upon him was between 45,000 and 60,000. To at- 
tack and defeat his opponents in detail before they could 
concentrate upon him was his plan,, and splendidly did he 
carry it out. 

Defeat of Banks. — By a long and rapid march to the south 
and then due west, he confronted the advance of Milroy's 
army, on May 8th, at McDowell, and struck them such a blow 
that they retreated in haste towards the northwest. Banks 
had advanced as far as Harrisonburg, where he expected to be 
joined by Milroy. After some days' rest, Jackson recrossed 
the North Mountain and the main Valley, fell upon a portion 
of Banks's army, on the 23d, at Front Royal, and completely 
crushed it, and then marched upon Banks, who retreated 
with his men at a rapid rate. Jackson's sudden and unex- 
pected movements terrified them. The retreat became first 
a panic and then a rout. A stand was made for a time, on 
the 25th, behind the strong fortifications at Winchester, but 
the Confederate soldiers charged them with the bayonet, and 
the Federals were soon fieeing through the town. In glad 
haste the women and few aged men of the place poured into 
the streets to welcome their deliverers from the Northern 
troops. A close pursuit was kept up, and Banks's fugitives 
did not stop until they had crossed the Potomac into Mary- 
land; 3,000 prisoners were taken, with many batteries and 
small arms; and such immense stores of all sorts were cap- 
tured that Banks received the derisive title of " Jackson's 
Commissary." 

Defeat of Fremont and Shields. — An alarm spread through 
the North that Jackson would march upon Washington. 
The number of his men was greatly magnified by the fright 
of his opponents. To increase this alarm, Jackson took his 
men from Winchester almost to Harper's Ferry, and when 
this move had caused large Federal forces to be sent from 
Fredericksburg to the Valley, he suddenly retraced his steps 
and withdrew again, carrying safely off the prisoners, can- 
non, and long wagon trains captured from Banks. Fre- 
mont and Shields again made an effort to surround and 
defeat him, but by rapid marches he passed between them, 
and once more beat them in detail. They were marching in 



404 History of the United States. 

parallel lines, with the Shenandoah River between them. 
Suddenly turning on Fremont, on June 7th, with Ewell's 
division, Jackson repulsed him severely at Cross Keys. He 
then took his men quickly across the river at Port Repub- 
lic, burned the bridge behind them, and fell upon Shields, 
to assist whom Fremont's nien were unable to cross the 
river. Shields's entire artillery and many prisoners were 
captured, and the out-witted and sorely beaten Federal army 
retreated down the Valley, but this time Jackson did not 
follow. 

Death of Ashby — Result of the Campaign. — This last of 
the brilliant series of victories was saddened by the death 
of General Ashby, Jackson's gallant cav- 
alry officer, who was killed in a charge upon 
the enemy. In one month, with 15,000 
men, Jackson had out-generaled and out- 
fought three commanders, each of whom 
had a force larger than his own. He had 
marched his men five hundred miles, and 
had captured not only thousands of pris- 
TUKNER ASHBY, VA. Qucrs, but cauuon, horses, arms, clothing, 
provisions, and wagons worth millions of dollars. He was 
now to take an important part in the great struggle around 
Richmond. 

Preparations Around Richmond, 1862. — By the middle of 
June, Lee had increased his army near Richmond to about 
65,000, and had gotten the fortifications in front of the city 
in a fit condition for defence. McClellan, whose force was 
115,000 strong, had erected in various strong positions im- 
mensely heavy earthworks, containing powerful siege guns. 
Relying upon the reports of " intelligent contrabands," as 
negroes escaping into his lines were called, he greatly over- 
estimated the size of the army opposed to him, insisted that 
he had not nearly enough men to attack it, and constantly 
telegraphed for reinforcements. 

Jackson Summoned from the Valley. — When Lee was 
ready for the fight, he summoned Jackson to bring the vic- 
torious army from the Valley to his assistance. But before 
they moved, in order to conceal his plan from the enemy, 
he sent General Whiting with 10,000 men to Staunton, as if 
to reinforce Jackson. Great publicity was given to this 




Lincoln's Admiinstration, 1862. 



405 



movement, and the Northern people looked for another ad- 
vance down to Winchester on Jackson's part. Mr. Lincoln 
alone seemed to divine that there might be some ruse con- 
nected with it. It proved to be the signal for Jackson's 
march to Richmond. Whiting was greatly astonished at 
the order to carry his soldiers back as fast as the cars could 
move them; and the Valley army set out for Richmond with 
all speed. 

Secrecy of the Move. — Every precaution was taken to keep 
the move secret. The soldiers were forbidden to give any 
information, or answer any questions, and, more than once, 
mail-riders and other persons going in an opposite direction, 
were turned around and taken along with the army, to pre- 
vent their telling which way it had gone. A story went 
that General Jackson having ridden a little off the route to 
examine a side road, in endeavoring to rejoin the army, en- 
countered a soldier from whom he desired to obtain some 
information. To all his questions the man stolidly replied, " I 
don't know." A little out of patience, the General said, 
"You seem to be strangely ignorant for a soldier." "Yes," 
said the man, who knew perfectly well to whom he was 
speaking, " Old Jack said we wasn't to know nothin', and I 
don't know nothin'." 

Stuart's Ride Round McClellan. — McClellan's army lay 
along the north and northeast of Richmond, mostly on the 
north side of the Chickahominy, across <- 
which he had built several strong 
bridges, and had constructed cause- 
ways of logs to pass through the 
swamps which extended for miles. To 
ascertain the exact position of the 
troops, the roads, and bridges, General 
Lee sent his famous cavalry general, 
J. E. B. Stuart, " Jeb " as he was 
familiarly called, to reconnoitre, and 
bring him all necessary information. 
With 1,200 cavalry and four pieces of 
horse-artillery, Stuart set out on the 
right of McClellan's army, and passed entirely round it. He 
had several severe fights, captured 165 men, 260 mules and 
horses, destroyed several bridges and considerable stores. 




STUART, VA. 



406 



History of the United States. 



When he got back to the Chickahominy south of McClellan, 
Stuart found the bridge gone by which he expected to cross; 
but he tore down some buildings, laid another bridge, and 
brought his command safely back into the Confederate lines. 
J. E. B. Stuart. — Stuart was a young Virginian only 
twenty-seven years old, when he left the United States Army 




SEVEN DAYS' BATTLES. 



for the Confederate service. He was absolutely fearless, of 
a gay and joyous disposition, fond of fine horses and dogs 
and of lively music. He was quick in contriving and speedy 
in executing the most daring military movements; and, like 
Jackson and Lee, he was an earnest, humble-minded Chris- 
tian. He never uttered an oath nor permitted those around 



Lincoln's Administration, 1862. 407 

him to do so, never drank intoxicating liquor, and always 
carried his mother's^ Bible with him. 

Seven Days' Fig-ht. — Learning what he wished to know of 
his adversary's position, Lee determined to take the initia- 
tive and not wait longer to be attacked. For this purpose 
Jackson was to move around the Federal right, to cut them 
off from their base of supplies on the York River Railroad, 
and attack them in the rear on June 25th; but even his foot 
cavalry could not accomplish the long inarch from the Val- 
ley in that time, and did not get into position until the next 
day. At three o'clock in the afternoon of the 26th, A. P. Hill, 
learning of Jackson's approach, opened the fight by attack- 
ing the Federal force at Mechanicsville, and by strong as- 
saults drove it from the intrenched camp at Beaver Dam 
Creek. But the Federals, massing their forces, caused him 
to retire. On the 27th, Lee, leaving Magruder and Huger 
with 28,000 men on the south side of the Chickahominy to 
defend Richmond against attack there, threw the rest of 
his forces under Longstreet, A. P. and D. H. Hill, to the 
north side, where they joined Jackson in a desperate and 
prolonged attack on the Federal army. The latter had 
drawn back in the night to the strong fortifications on the 
heights above Cold Harbor and Gaines's Mill. Here the bat- 
tle raged fiercely until nightfall, when a combined attack 
was made al along the line. As the Confederates, worn 
and exhausted by long marches and bloody fighting, rushed 
up the slopes with fixed bayonets, uttering their piercing 
" rebel yell," the Federal soldiers, who had been led to be- 
lieve their defences impregnable, precipitately retreated, 

McClellan's Retreat. — McClellan now determined to aban- 
don the position he had fortified with so much labor and 
expense, and to seek safety by retreating to James River, 
where his men might be sheltered under the gunboats. He, 
therefore, crossed his men as quickly as possible to the 
south side of the Chickahominy, destroying immense sup- 
plies and stores of all sorts and burning the bridges behind 
him. The sick and wounded in the hospitals were left by 
thousands to the mercy of the Confederates. To conceal 
his intention of getting away, the fortifications in front of 
Magruder and Huger were kept fully manned, and a suffi- 
cient artillery fire maintained to render it uncertain whether 



408 



History of the United States. 



the plan were not to mass the Federal army there and at- 
tack Richmond from that side. By the evening of the 28th, 
however, it became evident that McClellan and his great 
army were actually in retreat, and Lee's victorious though 
weary men took up the j^ursuit. They came up with the 
Federal rear near Savage's Station, where great quantities 
of stores had been destroyed by McClellan's order. The 




GEORGE B. M'CLELI.AN, V. S. A. 

fierce attack, made by Magruder upon the Federal corps 
inflicted great injury upon it but could not cutoff its retreat 
which was continued during the night. 

Malvern Hill. — Still the Federal army, so lately exultant, 
in its confident expectation of speedily taking Richmond, 
hastened farther and farther from that city, closely followed 
by the Confederates. On the 30th occurred the two bloody 
fights at White Oak Swamp and Frazier's Farm. The Union 



Lincoln's Administration, 1862. 409 

forces suffered heavily, but pressed on during the night, and 
on the morning of July 1st, were once more strongly posted 
on the elevated plateau of Malvern Hill, where their artil- 
lery could sweep the open ground across which the Confede- 
rates must pass to drive them from their breastworks. Re- 
peated efforts on Lee's part, during the afternoon of this day, 
failed to dislodge McClellan from his strong position. His 
artillery was fine and could be handled with great advan- 
tage, while, owing to the nature of the ground, no large ar- 
tillery force could be efficiently used by the Confederates. 
They rested on their arms, expecting to renew the attack 
the next morning. But when morning came there was no 
enemy to attack. McClellan had again withdrawn his army, 
this time to Harrison's Landing, where it was thoroughly 
protected by the gunboats. After watching him for some 
days and finding that no more damage could be done to him. 
General Lee took his forces back to Richmond. 

Results of the Seven Days' Fight. — The results of this 
great struggle, known as the " Seven Days' Fight," were" not 
such as had been hoped for on either side. McClellan 
and his army had expected to destroy Lee, capture Rich- 
mond, and end the Confederate resistance. When the fight 
opened, a successful repulse of their besiegers was as much as 
the Southern leaders dared anticipate, but, after the first day's 
victory at Cold Harbor and Gaines's Mill, General Lee laid 
his plans to destroy his opponent in detail. Lack of prompt 
co-operation by the subordinate commanders and of accu- 
rate knowledge of the country concurred with other causes 
to frustrate these plans, and McClellan fled to his gunboats 
with more men than Lee had ever had. General Lee in his 
Report, written at the time, sums up the material results of 
the prolonged fight: " more than 10,000 prisoners including 
officers of rank, 52 pieces of artillery and upwards of 35,000 
stand of small arms captured." The stores and supplies of 
every description which fell into the hands of the Confede- 
rates were great in amount and value, though small in com- 
parison with those destroyed by the retreating army. The 
killed and wounded on the Southern side were about 16,782. 
McClellan's loss is reported as 15,000. This report men- 
tions 5,000 prisoners, while General Lee's Report, published 
just after the fights, claims 10,000 prisoners. 



410 History of the United States. 

McClellan and Lincoln. — General McClellan, from his safe 
covert at Harrison's Landing, issued a congratulation to his 
soldiers on having escaped from their enemies, and at once 
began to clamor for large reinforcements to enable him to 
capture Richmond. The tidings of his discomfiture and 
retreat were received with shame and anguish throughout 
the entire North, and President Lincoln called for 300,000 
additional volunteers. There had been hard feeling for 
some time between Mr. Lincoln and McClellan, and the lat- 
ter had been removed from the position of Commander-in- 
chief of all the Union armies in March; he complained now 
that the authorities at Washington did everything to thwart 
him and destroy his army. To see how matters really stood, 
Mr. Lincoln went in person to Harrison's Landing, where 
he reviewed the array on July 8th, and found it 80,000 
strong. Li eluding Jackson's corps, Lee had never more 
than 81,000 around Richmond. In consequence of this 
visit and McClellan's persistence that he must again attack 
Richmond from his present base, he and his army were or- 
dered from the James to the Potomac River, while another 
army was collected — 'Banks's, Fremont's, and McDcwell's 
commands being consolidated as the Army of Virginia — 
and placed under General John Pope. 

AUTHORITIES.— Draper's History of the Civil War; Keports and Correspondence in 
Official War Records; Ridpath's History of the United States; J. E. Johnston's Narra- 
tive; Dabney's Life of T. J. Jackson; Allen's Jackson's Valley Campaign ; Long's Life 
of Robert E. Lee; Pitz Lee's Memoir of General R. E. Lee; Pollard's Lost Cause; 
Davis's Rise and Fall of the Confederate (iovernraent ; Stephens's History;of theUnited 
States ; Battles and Leaders of the Civil War; Taylor's Four Years with Lee. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. What was Jackson's position in the Valley ? 2. Tell of 
his success at McDovf<^11 and Winchester. .S. His defeat of Fremont and 
Shields. 4. What were the results of the campaign ? 5. Tell of the prepara- 
tions around Richmond for battle. 6. What force did Lee summon, and how 
did it come ? 7. Relate the anecdote of Jackson and the soldier. 8. Describe 
Stuart's ride. 9. Give a sketch of Stuart. 10. Tell of the fights at Mechan- 
iesville, at Cold Harbor, and at Gaines's Mill. 11. What was their effect on 
McClellan? 12. Did Lee's army follow ? 13. Where were the next encoun- 
ters? 14. Describe the battle of Malvern Hill. 15. What were the results of 
the " Seven Days' Fight"? 16. Tell of McClellan aiid Lincoln. 17. Find the 
various battle-fields on the map. 



CHAPTER LXXI. 

LINCOLN'S ADMINISTRATION, CONTINUED.— 1862. 

Pope's Unpopularity. — Pope, who had been fighting in the 
West under General Halleck, proved to be a great braggart. 
In one of his orders to his new army he told them, '' I have 
come from the West, where we have always seen the backs 
of our enemies — from an army whose business it has been 
to seek the adversary, and to beat him when found." This 
boasting soon made him unpopular with both men and offi- 
cers. General Halleck was also summoned from the West 
and made Commander-in-chief, and it was by him that Mc- 
Clellan was brought from the Peninsula back to Washington. 

Cedar Mountain — Pope's Army. — Pope, with 40,000 men, 
was moving towards Gordons ville, an important railroad junc- 
tion, and Lee sent Jackson and his corps to meet and drive him 

back. Jackson's men were moun- . — -- — ^.^^^ 

taineers and the Chickahominy ■ \ 

swamps were especially unhealthy 
for them. They hailed with delight 
the order to turn tlieir faces once 
more towards the hill country. On 
August 9th, part of them under 
General Ewell attacked Banks near 
Cedar Mountain, and after severe 
fighting drove him from the field. 
Jackson remained where he was for 
two days and then returned to Gor- 
donsville, to which point Lee was 
bringing up most of his troops from 
Richmond. Before long, Jackson's b. s. swell, va. 

corps moved off to the northwest, nobody knew exactly 
whither, while Longstreet advanced nearer the line of the rail- 
road which was held by Pope. Pope's army was more wantonly 
destructive than any which had hitherto invaded Virginia. 
By his express order, his men were empowered to seize and 
treat as a spy any man who might be found peaceably en- 
gaged at his home, unless the captive should at once take 

[411] 




412 History of the United States. 

the oath of allegiance to the United States, Private pro- 
perty of all sorts was either to be taken or destroyed. Under 
these infamous orders, farms were laid waste, dwellings de- 
stroyed or dismantled, furniture cut to pieces or burned. 
Farm implements shared the same fate, and clothing, books, 
any and everything was ruthlessly stolen or rendered useless 
to its former owners. In one of his bold rides, Stuart struck 
Pope's headquarters at Catlett's Station, where he captured 
his baggage and official papers, containing valuable informa- 
tion for General Lee. 

Jackson's Capture of Manassas Junction. — Jackson crossed 
the Rappahannock at the upper fords, and took a road be- 
hind the Bull Run Mountains, which screened his march 
from the enemy; passed through the mountains at Thorough- 
fare Gap, on August 26th, and gained a position between 
Pope and his supplies and reinforcements at Washington. 
Jackson's first act was to capture Manassas Junction, where 
300 prisoners, eight guns, ten locomotives, seven trains of 
cars, and immense quantities of stores were taken. What 
could be used was at once appropriated for the hungry and 
destitute Southerners, and the rest was burned. 

Battle of Second Manassas. — As soon as Pope found where 
Jackson was, he moved hastily to Manassas, hoping to defeat 
him before Longstreet could come up. Jackson occupied 
the position held by the Federal troops at the first battle of 
Manassas, while Pope had the advantage of the breastworks 
then thrown up by the Confederates. Pope ordered McDowell 
to move from Gainesville upon Jackson's rear, saying: " We 
shall bag the whole crowd." But Jackson was not easily 
bagged. His situation was critical. He was between the 
divisions of Pope's army, which greatly outnumbered his 
own, and Longstreet was still miles away. Yet he did not 
hesitate, but attacked the enemy as soon as he came within 
striking distance, on the evening of August 28th. Till night- 
fall the battle raged fiercely. Jackson's men sufi^ered heavily, 
and General Ewell, the second in command, lost his leg; 
but the advantage was everywhere in favor of the Confed- 
erates. 

Complete Victory. — The next morning the battle was re- 
newed, and Jackson's weary men were becoming exhausted 
by the fresh Federal troops, when Longstreet's corps, who 












An Episode in the Battle of Second Manassas. 

. This scene occurred on the edge of an old raihoad cut, which had been dug 
but never used ; the Louisiana Brigade had position behind the banl^ of earth 
which had been thrown out of the cut, and which formed an excellent breast- 
work: " Reno's men [the Federals], advancing under the fire of our artillery, 
fought the Louisiauians until the ammunition of the latter was exhausted , and 
then drove them back into the deep cut, where they were fighting with stones 
until relieved by our brigade. ... As my brigade advanced through the 
woods to retake the position, the minie-balls were rattling like hail against the 
trees, and, as we debouched into the field through which the railroad cut ran, 
nothing could be seen between us and the smoke and fire of the enemy's rifles 
except the tattered battle-flag of the Louisiana Brigade." — Fr(j7ri the report of 
an eye-witness, Colonel Robert H. Mayo, Forty-seventh Virginia Infantry. 

A private of Crenshaw Battery, Pegram's Artillery Battalion, says: "After 
leaving the Warreutou pike, we moved forward, and soon reached a position 
not far from the railroad cut, where the fighting of the infantry was, I believe, 
for the time, the severest of the war. It was here, when our battery had un- 
limbered — the guns having been double-shotted with canister — that the gallant 
A. P. Hill rode into our midst, and told our captain that the Louisiana lirigade, 
having run out of ammunition, was holding the enemy in check with rocks. 
Being anxious to see the railroad cut and the result of the battle there, . . . 
I started early next morning for that point, . . . where I saw the wounded 
enemy and heard from their lips the confirmation of General Hill's statement — 
the clearing on the north side of the cut and even the edge of the woods which 
skirted the field, being covered with the dead and wounded of both armies 
which had locked horns in the deadly struggle." — War Recollections in the 
Richmond {Va.) Star, December, 1S93, signed '■'Private,''' 



Lincoln's Administration, 1862. 



413 




in their turn had been hidden behind the mountains, came 
through Thoroughfare Gap to the aid of their hardly pressed 
comrades. Pope had telegraphed to Wash- 
ington that the ''enemv was driven from 
the field," and was " retreating towards the 
mountains." Deep was, therefore, the cha- 
grin of the North to learn that he had suf- 
fered a great defeat, and was himself in 
hasty retreat towards the Capital, leaving 
his dead and wounded to his enemies. A 
vigorous pursuit was kept up by Jackson, johni) 

and several severe blows delivered before his enemy was 
securely ensconced in the fortifications near Washington. 
In the last of these, at Chantilly, Major-General Kearney, of 
the Union army, was killed. His body, abandoned on the 
field, was sent to his friends by Jackson, under a flag of truce. 
Losses on Both Sides. — In this brief campaign, the Fed- 
erals lost 30,000 men, the Confederates some 12,000. Gen- 
eral Lee had captured 9,000 prisoners, 30 cannon, and 30,000 
stand of small arms. Since the 1st of June, 
in three months, he had defeated two fine 
armies greatly superior to his own in num- 
bers and equipments, and had freed Vir- 
ginia from hostile invasion from the James 
River to the Potomac. In the fights at 
Second Manassas, the Confederate artillery, 
newly organized and mobilized by General 
Pendleton, Lee's chief of artillery, took, for 
the first time, the important part it performed in the subse- 
quent conflicts of the Army of Northern Virginia. 

Lee in Maryland. — Having driven Pope across the Poto- 
mac, Lee's army was moved to Leesburg, where it also 
crossed that river and marched into Maryland. The au- 
thorities at Washington were much alarmed at this move 
and considered themselves in great danger. In this emer- 
gency, Mr. Lincoln, General Halleck, and the Secretary of 
War turned again to General McClellan and besought him 
to take command of the Army of the Potomac once more, 
and save the Capital. McClellan accepted the responsi- 
bility, notwithstanding the bad treatment he had experi- 
enced. 




414 History of the United States. 

Jackson at Harper's Ferry. — General Lee moved to Fred- 
erick City, and then, finding that Harper's Ferry was held 
by a strong garrison which barred free communication 
with the Valley, while McClellan was approaching him with 
87,000 men, sent Jackson to capture Harper's Ferry, while 
he, with the rest of the army, moved westward through the 
gaps of the Katoctin and Blue Ridge Mountains, Unfor- 
tunately, an order setting forth Lee's plans was picked up 
in D. H. Hill's deserted camp. This revealed to McClellan 
the route and intentions of his adversary, and he pressed on 
to overtake him and save Harper's Ferry. In order to give 
Jackson time to capture that place, Lee made stout resist- 
ance at Boonsboro' and Crampton's Gaps, which detained 
McClellan effectually until Jackson had compelled the sur- 
render of the Ferry on September 15th. Leaving A. P. 
Hill to look after 13,000 prisoners, 73 valuable guns, and 
30,000 muskets captured, Jackson hastened with his other 
men to join General Lee, who took up a strong position on 
the west side of Antietam Creek, near the village of Sharps- 
burg. Here McClellan opened, on the 17th, the bloody bat- 
tle known by both the above names. Weariness and ex- 
haustion had caused so much straggling in the Confederate 
army that they had only 35,000 to oppose their assailants, 
more than double that number. 

Battle of Sharpsburg, or Antietam. — The Federal right 
began the fight at day dawn, attacking Jackson's corps with 

great vigor. Backwards and for- 
wards the tide of battle swept along 
the line. On the Confederate left 
where Jackson was posted, the Fed- 
erals were at last driven back, but, 
in the centre and towards their own 
left, they pressed back their oppo- 
nents. Once and again Hood's brave 
Texans drove their foes before them. 
As the hard pressed and diminished 
Confederate regiments were again 
and again collected and thrown upon 
the apparently inexhaustible fresh 
A. p. HILL, VIRGINIA. ^^^^^^ ^f ^l^g Fcdcral army, defeat 

seemed at hand. D. H. Hill, McLaws, and Ewell continued 




Lincohi's Administration, 1862. 415 

their stubborn fighting, and at 3 P. M. they had fairly re- 
pulsed the Federals on the left and centre. Now a heavy 
attack is made by Burnside's fresh troops on the Confede- 
rate right. The heights above Antietam Creek are crowded 
with artillery, and, under shelter of this, Burnside's men 
cross the stream and drive the Confederates rapidly before 
them. Just at this critical moment, A. P. Hill's division 
reaches the field. They have had a long march from Har- 
per's Ferry, but they rush to the rescue of their comrades, and, 
in their turn, drive the enemy back across the creek with tre- 
mendous slaughter. Both sides slept on their arms, but 
Lee held the field, and McClellan sent a flag of truce asking 
permission to bury his dead. 

Lee's Return to Virginia. — Both armies remained quiet 
during the 18th, and in the night Lee, learning that large re- 
inforcements were coming up to his enemy, crossed his army 
back into Virginia by one bad ford, before McClellan had 
divined his intention. It was impossible to move the men in 
the field hospitals, and, on that account, McClellan claimed a 
victory. But he had lost 12,469 killed and wounded, while 
Lee's loss was about the same, and Sharpsburg or Antietam 
must be pronounced a drawn battle. On the morning of the 
19th, part of Porter's corps was sent across the Potomac in 
pursuit, but were met by A. P. Hill and driven into the river 
with great slaughter. For some weeks, Lee lay between 
Shepherdstown and Winchester, recruiting his weary men 
and horses, and improving the equipment of his army with 
the artillery and muskets captured at Harper's Ferry. It 
was a very hot, dry autumn, and, becoming sure that Mc- 
Clellan would not follow him. General Lee drew further up 
the Valley, where he could better subsist his army, and be 
in more direct communication with Richmond. While the 
armies lay watching each other, Stuart made another of his 
gallant dashes. Riding to Chambersburg in Pennsylvania, 
he captured and destroyed a large amount of military and 
railroad property. He then passed entirely round McClel- 
lan and recrossed the Potomac below Harper's Ferry. 

Burnside Supersedes McClellan. — By November 2d, Mc- 
Clellan had brought his army, increased to 115,000 men, once 
more into Virginia, and was moving southward in a line 
nearly parallel to the Blue Ridge. To head him off, no matter 



416 



History of the United States. 




A.E. BURNSIBE.U. S. A. 



in which direction he should turn, General Lee ordered part 
of Longstreet's corps to Loudoun County, and later on took 
the whole of it to Culpeper. Jackson was 
left in the Valley, to threaten Maryland and 
prevent the Federal army from moving too 
far away from Washington. General McClel- 
lari had given great dissatisfaction by his 
failure to follow up what the North claimed 
as his victory at Sharpsburg. He had twice 
shown himself admirable as a fine organizer 
of a large army, but seemed unable to exe- 
cute the plans he laid for handling it. He 
was, therefore, again removed from command, and the army 
of the Potomac was given to General Ambrose E. Burnside, 
on November 10th. 

" On to Richmond." — The new Federal general determined 
to try another " On to Richmond," this time by way of 
Fredericksburg. The army was in three grand divisions, 
commanded by Hooker, Sumner, and Franklin, and was 
125,000 strong. Sumner reached the heights of Falmouth, 
a little village just opposite Fredericksburg, on November 
17th, and wished to cross the Rappahan- 
nock at once and take possession of the 
town. This could have been accomplished 
without serious opposition, as the town 
and hills above it were held only by " one 
regiment of cavalry, four companies of 
Mississippi infantry, and a battery of 
light artillery," and as, for several days 
later, only two divisions of Longstreet's 
corps were in position to obstruct the ad- 
vance of their enemies. Burnside, how- 
ever, proved himself even more cautious than McClellan, 
and would neither suffer Sumner to cross the Rappahannock 
at Fredericksburg nor Hooker at the Fords some distance 
above, as he wished to do. 

At Fredericksburg. — Instead of advancing, the Federal 
host sat down and began fortifying all the country north of 
the river. Finding his foe thus inactive, Lee, on his side, 
did everything possible to strengthen his position by earth- 
works, rifle-pits, and the most powerful artillery he could 




JOS. HOOKER. U. S. A. 



Lincoln's Administration, 1862. 



417 



obtain. Jackson's army was brought from the Valley, and 
everything was prepared for a desperate resistance. As 
Fredericksburg lies on a plain everywhere commanded by 
the Falmouth Hills, there was no possibility of preventing 
the Federal army from crossing the river, and all the Con- 
federate energies were turned to driving it back after such 
crossing. The winter set in unusually early and with great 
severity, and both sides suffered much from the cold. Burn- 
side's men had good clothing, ample provisions, and good 
tents. The Confederate army was forced to supplement 
their inadequate supply of tents by bushes and their scanty 
blankets; their food consisted of a small ration of fat bacon 
and corn bread, and their clothing principally of ragged 
suits which had seen many a battle. Their long marches 
were especially destructive to shoes, and many soldiers were 
entirely barefooted. All these hardships did not diminish 
their spirit nor deaden their patriotism. 

Bombardment of Fredericksburg. — By the 1 0th of Decem- 
ber, Burnside had all the men and munitions he had called 
for, and felt ready to begin the advance for which the North 
was so eager. To eat his Christmas 
dinner in Richmond was his great 
desire. One hundred and fifty heavy 
■cannon crowned the Falmouth Hills, 
and, under cover of these, a force 
advanced to lay across the river the 
pontoons — bridges laid upon boats — 
over which the army was to reach 
the southern bank. The Confederate 
sharp-shooters in the town so hindered 
the bridge-laying that a furious bom- 
bardment was poured into the little 
historic city. Many of the people 
had fled from their homes, alarmed by the proximity and 
threats of their enemies, and the few who were left hid them- 
selves in the cellars, expecting every house to be battered 
about their heads. A dense fog covered the river and plain, 
and it was difficult for either army to ascertain the move- 
ments of the other. 

Disparity of Forces. — By the morning of the 13th, 90,000 
of the Federal army with 220 pieces of artillery had crossed 
27 




W. B. FRANKLIN, U. S. A. 



418 History of tlie United States. 

into the plain, 40,000 men and 104 guns under Sumner at 
Fredericksburg; 50,000 and 116 guns under Franklin, at the 
bridges lower down. North of the river was Hooker's re- 
serve of 23,000 with the 150 guns of the powerful artillery 
on the hills. Lee had only 60,000 men to oppose to this host 
and about 250 pieces of artillery. Longstreet's corps held 
the Confederate left, opposite Sumner, Jackson the right, 
confronting Franklin. The fog continued so dense that 
the words of command could be heard while the advancing 
hosts were invisible. 

Battle of Fredericksburg. — The first attack was made, in 
the early morning, upon Jackson's right, under cover of a 
cannonade. The Confederate cannon 
were forbidden to fire until the Federal 
infantry was close upon them. At 1 P. 
M., a powerful attack all along Jackson's 
front was opened by a furious cannon- 
ade from the Federal guns. On the left 
of his line, his artillery checked the ad- 
vance of the enemy. Towards the right, 
there was an interval between two of 
A. P. Hill's brigades, which were sepa- 
rated by a marsh. The Federals pressed 
up into this interval, penetrated the first 
J. A. EAKLY, VA. jjjjg g^j^^ gained a temporary advantage. 

Early's gallant command rushed through the woods to the 
rescue, and, after desperate fighting, drove the enemy out of 
the woods, over the railroad, and across the plain to the 
cover of their batteries. 

Marye's Hill. — No attack was made upon Longstreet's po- 
sition, until 11 A. M., though a tremendous artillery fire was 
poured upon it from the Stafford heights. At eleven, Sum- 
ner advanced for an assault upon the works and men in his 
front. "Marye's Hill" was the highest point and the key 
tO' the whole position, and against it the attack was princi- 
pally directed. It was defended by the Washington Artil- 
lery from New Orleans, on its crest; by other batteries so 
stationed that their fire could sweep the plain in its front; 
by a strong infantry force concealed in a sunken road and 
behind a stone wall at its base, and by reserves of infantry 
and artillery on its slope in the rear. When Sumner's di' 




Lincoln's Admi7iistration, 186'2. 419 

visions moved forward, the guns across the river began a 
heavier firing than before. Here, as on Jackson's line, the 
Confederate guns were bidden to remain silent until the 
assailants were in easy striking distance. The murderous 
fire from the Southern guns upon their front ranks did not 
deter the Federal hosts from crossing the plain. As one 
division was mown down, another took its place; but the 
sunken road with its concealed riflemen was what they had 
not expected, and, as its destructive fire burst into their faces, 
the Union lines staggered back in confusion. 

Hooker's Reserves Defeated. — Burnside, across the river, 
seeing Sumner's men melt away before the stern fury of 
their foes, ordered Hooker to take his reserves and carry the 
crest. But this effort was no more successful than the others. 
Six times did the blue Federal lines move up to storm the 
hill; and the sixth assault was as futile as the first. As it 
came on, the guns on the crest of the hill, exhausted by 
desperate work, were withdrawn to give place to fresh ones. 
This movement was imagined to be the beginning of a re- 
treat. Instead of a retiring foe, the oncoming brigades were 
met by reinforced guns and infantry, and were repulsed 
with deadly slaughter. When night came, 12,000 Federal 
soldiers lay dead or wounded on the cold plain; 5,000 Con- 
federates were lost on the other side. Knowing that the 
Federal army was double his own, and greatly superior in 
its arms. General Lee supposed the advance on the 13th was 
only a " reconnoissance in force," to ascertain his position 
and strength. He, therefore, kept his whole army ready 
for the real attack which he expected the next day. Sun- 
day and Monday passed without its renewal, and, when the 
16th dawned, it was found that the whole Federal force had 
gone back, under cover of the darkness and fog, to its in- 
trenchments above Fredericksburg. Only one of Longstreet's 
divisions and parts of two of Jackson's had been actively 
engaged, and they had repulsed and demoralized the whole 
army in their front. 

Result of the Victory. — This great victory ended active 
operations for the winter. It was apparent that no further 
advance was contemplated by the Federal generals, and Lee 
drew his army a little farther back where it might be better 
fed and sheltered. The people at home in the South, though 
they too began to feel much of the privation resulting from 



420 History of the United States. 

their beleaguered condition, made great exertions and many 
sacrifices to supply the needs of the soldiers. Women 
everywhere set to spinning cotton and yarn, to weaving 
cloth, knitting socks, making caps and gloves. Carpets were 
taken from the floors and cut into blankets and covering for 
the men at the front, and boxes of all provisions that could 
be spared were sent to furnish the hungry soldiers with a 
few good meals. 

Devotion of Confederate Women. — The history of every 
free people tells bow, in all times of danger and difficulty, 
the women of the nation have shared in the trials and light- 
ened the burdens of the men who fought and toiled for free- 
dom and sacred rights. In no age or country has this been 
more remarkable than in the Southern States, from the be- 
ginning to the end of the Civil War. With sorrowful but 
sympathizing hearts, they gave their dearest and best to 
what they felt was their country's cause; and, in the hour 
of defeat as well as of victory, they stood ready to cheer and 
encourage their defenders. Enduring privations and facing 
dangers with silent courage; nursing in the hospitals; taking 
charge on farms and plantations; exercising wonderful in- 
genuity to supply the daily increasing deficiencies in all 
household departments; looking after and directing the 
negroes left almost entirely dependent upon them; maintain- 
ing their trust in God and the righteousness of their cause, 
when their best beloved were languishing in prison, or dead 
upon the battle-field; the women of the Southern Confede- 
racy will be remembered for their patriotism and womanly 
fidelity, while the world lasts, 

AUTHORITIES.— Draper's History of the Civil War; Reports and Correspondence in 
OfHcial War Records; Ridpath's History of the United States; J. E, Johnston's Narra- 
tive; Dabney's Life of T. J. Jackson ; Allen's Jackson's Valley Campaign; Long's Life 
of Robert E. Lee; Fitz Lee's Memoir of General Robert E. Lee; Pollard's Lost Cause; 
Davis'sRise and Fall of the Confederate Government ; Stephens's History of the United 
states; Battles and Leaders of the Civil War; Taylor's Four Years With Lee. 

QUESTIONS. — 1. Who was now commander-in-chief of the Federal forces? 
2. Tell of the battle of Cedar Mountain, and of the raids of Pope's army. 3. Who 
captured Manassas Junction? 4. Describe the battle of Second Manassas. 
5. Who gained the victory ? 6. What is said of the losses ? 7. Tell of Lee 
in Maryland. 8. Of Jackson at Harper's Ferry. 9. Relate the battle of Sharps^ 
burg, or Antietam. 10. Which side gained the vietorj^? 11. Who now super- 
seded McClellau ? 13. What plan did he form ? 13. Tell of the armies at Fi-ede- 
ricksburg. 14. Of the bombardment of the town. 15. Were the forces equal 
on both sides? 10. Describe the battle of Fredericksburg and the attack on 
Marye's Hill. 17. Who were the commanders on both sides ? 18. What was 
the result of the battle ? 19. Describe the devotion of the Southern women. 



CHAPTER LXXII. 

LINCOLN'S ADMINISTRATION, CONTINUED.— 1862. 

Forces Below New Orleans. — The capture of New Orleans, 
three weeks after the battle of Shiloh, by Admiral Farragut, 
was a great disaster to the Confederacy. Seventy miles be- 
low the city, Forts Jackson and St. Philip had been made as 
strong as the limited Southern resources allowed. A raft of 
logs and chains stretched from one to the other to bar the 
passage up the river, and, under the walls of Fort Jackson, 
lay the little Confederate fleet of 13 small gunboats, the 
floa-iing batterv Louisiana, and the ram Manasms, the ma- 




NEW OELEAMS. 



chinery of which had already proved defective. Farragut 
had collected 7 large steam war vessels, 16 gunboats, 21 
heavily-armed mortar schooners, and a transport fleet carry- 
ing 15,000 men under General Benjamin F. Butler. 

Federal Fleet at the City. — With this superior force, the 
overpowering of the forts was simply a question of time. 
The bombardment began, on April 18th, and continued in- 
cessantly for six days and nights. Still the forts made no 
sign of surrender, and Farragut determined to run by them. 
The river was rising rapidly and had carried away part of 
the raft across the channel. Farragut divided his fleet into 

[421] 



422 History of the United States. 

thfee squadrons, one of which was to fight Fort St. Philip, 
another Fort Jackson, while the third was to effect a passage 
through the raft and up the river. The ships were defended 
against shot and shell by sand-bags piled on their decks, 
and great chains hung all over their sides. The effort to 
pass the forts was made before daylight, on the morning of 
April 23d. A fight ensued between the gallant little Con- 
federate fleet and their stronger assailants, and it was not 
until eleven of the gunboats and the ram Manassas were dis- 
abled or destroyed that Farragut could proceed up the river. 
His vessels had been greatly damaged, but thirteen remained 
unhurt to seize and hold New Orleans. 

Affairs in the City. — When tidings of the approach of the 
Federal fleet reached the city, there was universal distress 
and consternation. General Mansfield Lovell, commanding 
the troops, turned the city over to the municipal authorities 
and wisely withdrew his soldiers, carrying them where they 
might be of further use to the South. Immediate steps were 
taken to prevent the valuable supplies of cotton, sugar, mo- 
lasses, and other stores at New Orleans, from falling into the 
enemy's hands. For miles, the levees showed one unbroken 
front of fire where cotton bales and hogsheads of sugar fed 
the flames. The unfinished gunboats and war vessels were 
fired and launched into the middle of the stream, in the 
hope that they might do some harm to the approaching 
fleet. Thousands of citizens hastil}^ gathered up such efl'ects 
as they could and left the city, before the evening of the 
25th, when Farragut anchored in its front. The maj'or re- 
fused to surrender, since the forts still held out. Farragut 
sent a party of marines on shore who hoisted the United 
States flag over the Mint, which flag was soon taken down 
by a young man named Munford. 

Fall of New Orleans — General B. F. Butler. — While this 
was going on, the forts were attacked from a bayou in their 
rear by Commodore Porter and on land by Butler's men. 
Their supplies of food and ammunition were exhausted, and 
there being no hope of assistance, on the 28th, the garrisons 
spiked their guns and surrendered. New Orleans was then 
taken possession of by General Butler, who exercised his 
power in so brutal a manner that he received the title of 
" Beast Butler," which never left him. One of his first acts 



Lincoln's Administration, 186^. 423 

was to hang as a felon Munford, who had pulled down the 
United States flag hefore the city had surrendered. He was 
most insulting to the women of the city, because of their re- 
fusal to extend courtesy to himself and his soldiers, and 
issued a proclamation to his men to treat them with 
shameful indignity. In addition to this, he and his under- 
lings took from the citizens without hesitation whatever 
they found. Furniture, jewels, silver, pictures, books, 
clothing, any and everything was " confiscated," and sent to 
enrich the homes or please the friends of the victorious 
plunderers. Such was the general's own 
greed for silver plate that the caricatures 
of him at the time, in the public prints, 
showed him with his pockets full of 
spoons and ladles, and many severe jokes 
on the subject were in after years made 
at his expense. Under his rule New 
Orleans and the Gulf coast of Louisiana 
were downtrodden and devastated. In 
consequence of his outrages against 

,, S P T n r^ 1 B. P. BUTLEB, U. S. A. 

the rules oi modern warfare. General 
Butler was outlawed by President Davis in this same year. 
The Federal Government found it expedient to remove him, 
and General Banks was placed in command of Louisiana. 

Great Losses of the Confederates. — By the 1st of May, 
the Confederates had lost, in the west and south, Kentucky 
with the defences at Columbus, Henry, and Donelson; and 
Missouri with the defences at New Madrid and Island No. 
10. They had been forced to abandon middle Tennessee, 
had lost Nashville and New Orleans, and had suffered great 
losses in the important battles of Elkhorn and Shiloh. From 
Shiloh, General Beauregard fell back to Corinth and then 
to Tupelo in Mississippi. Buell followed him and occupied 
Corinth, sending his cavalry to destroy the railroads and 
bridges to the eastward, and inflict destruction upon Con- 
federate property everywhere. In consequence of the re- 
tirement of Beauregard's army, Fort Pillow above Memphis 
and that city itself both passed into the hands of the North- 
ern armies. 

Confederate Conscription — Beauregard Replaced by Bragg-. 
The same difficulties about the re-enlistment of their sol- 




424 



History of the United States. 



diers harassed the Confederate generals here, which were 
experienced in the east. To prevent this uncertainty as to 
the number of their soldiers, the Confederate Congress, 
early in the year, passed a conscription law, which ordered 
that all able-bodied men between the ages of 18 and 35 
should be enrolled, and, wdien called for, should be drafted 
into the army for three years. Those men who had already 
enlisted for one year, were by this act required to serve two 
years longer. Van Dorn brought 17,000 men from Arkan- 
sas, and the army was gradually increased and made more 
efficient. Beauregard, who continued in ill-health, was re- 
lieved from the command of the Army of Mississippi on 
June 21st, and General Braxton Bragg appointed in his 
stead. Bragg had done a great deal to improve the dis- 
cipline and efficiency of the army, and much was expected 
of him. General Halleck and General Pope had both been 
ordered to Virginia. General Buell and General Thomas 
were sent with their troops to Chattanooga. General Grant 
was put in command of the Army of the Tennessee, having 
under him Sherman, McClernand, and Rosecrans, 

Effort to Recover Tennessee and Kentucky. — Bragg now 

made an effort to recover the 
ground lost by the Confede- 
rates in Tennessee and Ken- 
tucky. Leaving Van Dorn to 
confront Grant and prevent 
his uniting with Buell, the 
other Confederate troops were 
moved in a northeast direction 
to Chattanooga. To make the 
intended advance more practi- 
cable, the cavalry under Forrest 
swept forward through middle 
Tennessee, while John Morgan 
pressed on into Kentucky. 

Nathan B. Forrest. — Nathan 
B. Forrest was a native of 
Tennessee. He had had little 
advantage of education, and 
no military training, but he showed himself one of the great 
soldiers of his time. His powerful frame fitted him to en- 




N. B. FOKEEST, TENN. 



Lincoln's Administration, 1862. 425 

dure toil and hardship, while his dauntless courage, com- 
bined with unusual activity and daring, and with a keen 
perception of the weak points in any situation, and a won- 
derful influence over men, made him a born leader. Col- 
lecting a company of cavalry at the beginning of the war, 
he so soon proved his aptitude for command, that he was 
promoted, and intrusted with a large force and most dan- 
gerous and responsible duty. So great was his military ca- 
pacity that he never met with a defeat, or failed to execute 
the daring achievements he undertook, although he almost 
always had greatly superior numbers to contend with. He 
was the beloved defender of the people in the Gulf States, 
and the terror of his foes. You remember, he had escaped 
with his cavalry from Fort Donelson; he now took the 
towns of McMinnville and Murfreesboro. At the latter place 
he captured the garrison commanded by General T. L. Crit- 
tenden and a large quantity of stores, and Nashville seemed 
in danger of a like fate. 

JohrTH. Morgan. — .John H. Morgan was a native of Ala- 
bama, but spent his youth and early manhood in Lexing- 
ton, Kentucky. He had served in the Kentucky cavalry 
during the Mexican War, when he was little more than a 
boy. Ardently Southern in his sympa- 
thies, he entered the Confederate service 
early in 1861, and at once became distin- 
guished as a gallant and daring cavalry 
officer. Collecting round him a band of 
soldiers as fearless and enterprising as 
himself, he brought his command into 
such discipline that he could rely upon 
their obedience and valor in any peril. 
He was greatly beloved in Kentucky, and 
when he now advanced into the State, 

hi J i? il -LI J. i? 1 J. H. MOROAN, KT. 

undreds oi the noblest of her sons 

flocked to his standard. With about 2,000 men he seized 

the towns of Lebanon and Cynthiana with about 1,200 

prisoners. He cut the telegraph wires, burned railroad 

bridges, and caused great consternation by his proximity 

to Cincinnati. He, however, turned back into Tennessee 

and seized Clarksville, where there was a large supply of 

military stores. 




-426 History of the United States. 

Bragg's Advance Into Kentucky. — A part of Bragg's com- 
mand was sent to strengthen General Kirby Smith, who 
pushed on through East Tennessee into Kentucky, leaving 
a small force to watch the garrison under the Federal Gen- 
eral Morgan in Cumberland Gap, and prevent its leaving its 
intrenchments and moving on his rear. Bragg himself with 
30,000 men hastened forward into central Kentucky. This 
advance of the Confederates forced Buell, also, to move north- 
ward into Kentucky. 

Battle of Richmond, Ky. — Kirby Smith's advance through 
eastern Kentucky was rapid and successful. On the 30th 
of August, the same day with Lee's vic- 
tory at Second Manassas, he with 5,000 
men, attacked the Federal Generals Nel- 
son and Manson commanding 10,000 men 
near Richmond, Kentucky, and totally 
routed them, killing and wounding 1,000, 
taking 5,000, as many as his whole force, 
prisoners, and capturing 9 cannon and 
10,000 stand of small arms. A few days 
after this, Bragg entered Kentucky. 

Capture of Louisville. — One of two 
courses was open to him, to attack Buell 
E. KIRBY SMITH, FLA. ^^ ^^^^^ ^^ ^^ ^^^^^^j^ lapldly uorthward 

and seize Louisville. Unfortunately, he did neither. The 
whole Confederate army was about 52,000 strong, but it was 
marching upon widely separated roads. Buell, at first, had 
about the same number, but he was being constantly rein- 
forced. He too moved towards Louisville. Bragg was 
tempted to deluj his advance for an attack on Munfordville, 
where he captured 4,133 prisoners with their artillery and 
small arms; and he afterwards stopped at Frankfort to aid in 
inaugurating a Confederate governor for Kentucky. This 
gave Buell the opportunity to reach Louisville, and Bragg's 
day of success was over. 

(Drrant at luka and Corinth. — Van Dorn was left in Missis- 
sippi to keep Grant occupied, to defeat him if possible, and 
then to come to Bragg's aid in Kentucky. Price's division 
of Van Dorn's command had, however, sustained a severe 
check at luka. Grant had then sent a considerable force to 
assist Buell, and just at the time when the Confederate ad- 




Lincoln's Administration., 186^. 



427 




S. PRICE, MO. 



vance most needed help, a combined attack made by Van 

Dorn and Price upon Rosecrans at Corinth was repulsed 

with very heavy loss. In this fight, 

the Confederate army was one-third 

larger than that of the Federals, 

but the fortifications at Corinth had 

been made so strong that they could 

not be carried even by the most 

desperate assaults. This defeat was 

a great blow to the Confederate 

cause in the Southwest. 

Bragg at Frankfort. — Buell, once 
in Louisville, was soon at the head 
of 75,000 men. There was no hope 
for reinforcements for Bragg. It 
became a necessity for him to fall 
back, especially if he wished to save 
the quantity of supplies and stores he had collected. Buell 
was confident of his ability to defeat the Confederates, if he 
could once get in their rear and cut off their line of retreat 
into Tennessee. Accordingly, he moved his main army 
towards the southeast, hoping to seize the roads and once 
more occupy Cumberland Gap. Bragg, however, conceived 
the idea that Buell was coming to give him battle in the 
neighborhood of Frankfort, and kept most of his troops in 
that vicinity. 

Battle of Perryville.— In consequence of this, Polk's corps 
16,000 strong encountered at Perryville, on October 8th, the 
main part of Buell's army, 58,000 men. By stout fighting, 
Polk held the ground, repulsed the enemy, and captured 15 
pieces of artillery and 600 prisoners, when night put a stop 
to the battle. The Confederate loss was 3,145 killed and 
wounded. That of the Federals somewhat greater. It was 
impossible for Polk's corps to make a longer stand against 
the great numbers in their front, and they withdrew in the 
night to Harrodsburg where the rest of the Southern forces 
soon collected. Bragg might possibly have met Buell with 
an army almost as large as his own, but apprehending a 
flank movement, he fell back into East Tennessee, carrying 
with him a large supply of provisions and stores. The re- 
sults of this campaign were bitterly disappointing to both 



428 History of the United States. 

sides. The South justly felt that much more might have 
been accomplished, had there been more vigor and celerity 
in the Confederate movements; while the North believed 
that Buell should have surrounded and destroyed Bragg's 
army. Buell was, therefore, superseded by Rosecrans who 
had acquired a great name for his successful defence at 
Corinth. Van Dorn was also removed from command, his 
place being given to General John C. Pemberton. 

Result of the Campaign. — Although Bragg had misused his 
opportunities, he had recovered possession of East Tennes- 
see and a great part of the middle of the State. His army 
was posted at Murfreesboro, only forty miles from Nash- 
ville, where he fortified the naturally strong position by 
earthworks. While the infantry was thus quiet for a few 
weeks, the cavalry, of which Colonel Joseph Wheeler was the 
chief commander, was in constant activity, capturing sup- 
ply trains and detachments of the enemy's troops, and in- 
terfering with his communications. Morgan, on one occa- 
sion, surprised a camp early in the morning, and took 1,500 
prisoners. 

President Davis Visits Bragg's Army. — To see how mat- 
ters stood, and in the hope of infusing fresh courage into 
the western army. President Davis visited Murfreesboro, 
and reviewed the troops there. During this visit. General 
Morgan's marriage took place, the ceremony being per- 
formed by General Polk, who for once consented to exercise 
his clerical functions. 

Battle of Murfreesboro or Stone River, 1862. — The last 
day of the year found Rosecrans and Bragg in the deadly 
grapple of battle, the former having 46,940, the latter 37,712 
men, a difference of only 10,000. To encourage the North 
after the disappointment and defeat of Fredericksburg, Gen- 
eral Rosecrans took advantage of the absence of most of the 
Confederate cavalry, and moved from Nashville on December 
26th to attack Bragg. The position held by the Confederate 
army a little northwest of the small town of Murfreesboro 
was by no means a strong one, and offered more advantage for 
attack than for defence. General Bragg, however, decided 
to make his stand there. Skirmishing with cavalry as he 
advanced, Rosecrans reached Stone River, beyond which 
Bragg's troops lay, on the evening of December 30th. He 



Lincoln's Administration, 1862. 



429 




J, HAKDEE, GA. 



raade his dispositions and determined to open the attack 
with his left wing early on the next morn- 
ing. Major-GeneralMcCook commanded [ 
the right, Major-General Thomas the '■ 
centre, and Major-General Crittenden 
the left of the Federal army. The 
Confederate left, opposite McCook, was 
composed of McCown's division sup- 
ported by Cleburne's division, the whole 
under command of Lieutenant-General , 
Hardee; the centre opposite Thomas '- 
was commanded by Lieutenant-Gene- 
ral Polk, having Withers's division in 
front with Cheatham's as support; the 
right was held by Major-General Breckinridge, opposite 
Crittenden. Stone River ran between the centre and right 
wing. 

Confederate Success. — Rosecrans's plan to attack with his 
left wing was foiled by an unexpected and gallant assault 
on his right, in the early morning of December 30th. The 
morning was foggy, and the sudden advance of McCown's 
men found McCook so unprepared that several of his guns 
were captured before they had been fired, 
a large number of prisoners was taken, 
and, though there was stout resistance, in 
a short time Hardee's force had driven 
two Federal divisions some distance back 
in great confusion, with the loss of a num- 
ber of cannon and several thousand pris- 
oners. By eleven o'clock the Federal right 
had been driven from its whole position; 
half the field had been taken, and the Con- 
federate cavalry under General Wharton had passed round 
to the rear and were cutting off the supply trains. 

Fight in the Centre. — The brunt of the battle was now sus- 
tained by Thomas in the centre. His position was a strong 
one, on the edge of a rocky hill covered with cedar brush, 
and was well defended by artillery which swept the open 
ground in its front. Notwithstanding the murderous fire of 
this artillery and of the Federal infantry in the cedar thickets, 
Polk's Mississippi and Alabama Brigades succeeded in car- 




J. A. WUARrON, TEX. 



430 



History of the United States. 



rying the line of defence at the point of the bayonet, cap- 
turing many guns and thousands of prisoners in their on- 
ward rush, and the centre joined the right wing in its rapid 
retreat. The two armies at this time occupied lines at right 
angles to those on which the fight had begun. 

Hell's Half- Acre. — Only the extreme right of the Federal 
army remained untouched. It, however, was posted in a 




BATTLE OF MURFREESBORO. 



strong position on an elevation about a hundred yards wide, 
between the river bluff and a deep railway cut. This narrow 
strip of land covered with trees was known as "The Round 
Forest," but received from the soldiers the name "Hell's 
Half-Acre." An immediate appi^oach to it was impossible 
save directly in front. It was held by a strong force of artil- 
lery and infantry, and all efforts to carry it were repulsed 
with terrible slaughter. Some of the attacking regiments lost 
more than half their men. General Bragg, at last, brought 
part of Breckinridge's force over the river, in another effort 
to dislodge his enemy in the Round Forest, but night fell 
and Rosecrans's left still held it. 

Retreat on Both Sides, — The retreating soldiers, on the 
Federal right and centre, had been met by fresh troops 
coming to their aid, and halted in their flight along a new 
line of defence suddenly constructed, with its left still in the 
" Round Forest." During the night it was drawn further 
back, and the whole field was left to the Confederates. All 



lAncoln^s Administration, 186'2. 431 

day of January 1st, 1863, the armies lay close together, each 
too much exhausted to renew the contest. On the 2d, Rose- 
crans made an effort to get between Bragg and Murfreesboro. 
Breckinridge's troops met this advance and drove it back to 
the river, but were themselves compelled to fall back before 
the artillery massed there. As often happened after a great 
battle, a very heavy rain fell all day of the 3d. There was 
danger that Stone River would rise between Bragg's army 
and his supplies; Rosecrans was receiving heavy reinforce- 
ments; and in the night the whole Confederate army crossed 
the river and fell back — Polk's corps to Shelbyville, Hardee's 
to Tullahoma. 

Victory Claimed by Both Sides. — The North claimed a 
victory, on account of this withdrawal, but it had suffered 
terrible loss, 13,249 men, 30 cannon, 9 flags, and 6,000 
stand of small arms being captured from them. The Con- 
federates lost 10,266 men, among them some of their bravest 
and best officers. But there were thousands and thou- 
sands to replenish the Federal armies, while the South 
was beginning to feel the strain upon her population very 
grievously. General Bragg telegraphed to Richmond, on 
the night of December 31st, that he had won a victory. 
Great, therefore, was the Southern disappointment to learn 
that his success was altogether fruitless, and that he was 
again falling back. The country, as well as his own offi- 
cers and soldiers, was fast losing confidence in a man who 
had again failed when success seemed within his grasp. 
But President Davis still believed him a capable general, 
and the army in Tennessee was left under his command. 

Burning of Holly Springs. — During the latter part of 1862, 
Grant was making his plans for the capture of Vicksburg. 
He had established a fortified camp at Holly Springs. This 
was an important railroad junction, and here he accumu- 
hited a large depot of army stores and supplies. On Decem- 
ber 20th, Van Dorn with his Confederate cavalry made a 
long raid round Grant's position, cut his communications, 
and at last captured Holly Springs with its garrison of 2,000 
men. He then set fire to the store-houses, and destroyed 
them with their contents and all the railroad buildings. 
Millions of dollars' worth of property was burned, and Grant 
was forced to fall back to protect his communications, Sher- 



432 



History of the United States. 



man also suffered a defeat in his advance upon some Con- 
federate outposts, and lost 2,000 men. 

Confederate Cruisers. — On the ocean, during this year, the 
Confederate privateers and cruisers did immense damage to 
Federal commerce. Two admirable ships, the Alabama and 
the Florida, had been sent out as cruisers, the first built for 
the Confederates at Liverpool, the other purchased as a mer- 
chant ship. To avoid an infringement of English neutrality 
between the United States and the Confederacy, any such 
vessels had to watch their opportunity and slip out of the 
British waters without any armament. Guns and supplies 
were brought to them by other vessels. Under command of 




'i5C ■ 




.'iLmM^lmp- 


^ii. 


m^w 


m 


^mi^f^ 


W 


m ^^' ■f'^'W W ■ \ 


li 


^- ~ -,,' V f 


/ ; 



1 



BUJiMINU OF HOLLY S1"KINUS. 



Captain Raphael Semmes, who had before been captain of 
the Sumter, the Alabama distinguished herself on the high 
seas, especially in the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans. 
The Florida ran the blockade into Mobile, Was there fitted out 
as a privateer, and, under the command of Captain -John 
N. Moffitt, cruised with great success in the Atlantic Ocean. 
Condition of the Confederacy, 1862. — The close of 1862 
found the boundaries of the Confederacy much curtailed. 
The immense resources of the Federal Government had en- 
abled it to seize and hold the border States except Virginia, 
and to take possession of the Mississippi River, except that 



Lincoln's Administration, 1862. 433 

part lying between Vicksburg and Grand Gulf. Nearly all 
the Atlantic coast, except that between Charleston and Savan- 
nah and one or two points in North Carolina, was held by 
Federal troops and gunboats. New Orleans, southern Louisi- 
ana, and much of the Gulf coast were in their grasp. A 
powerful and efficient blockade kept foreign supplies and 
recruits from entering the South, while Grant in Mississippi 
and Rosecrans in Tennessee threatened the communications 
so important for the support of the Southern armies. In 
the field the advantage was greatly in favor of the Confed- 
eracy. The victories of Jackson and Lee over the armies 
collected to crush them, excited the wonder and admiration 
of the world, and led their soldiers to believe that Southern 
prowess must ultimately gain Southern independence. 

AUTHORITIES.— Draper's History of the Civil War; Ridpath's History of the United 
states ; Life of Leonidas Polk by his son ; Reports and Correspondence in Government 
War Records; Davis's Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government; Pollard's Lost 
Cause; Raymond's Life of Lincoln; MePherson's Political History of the Rebellion; 
Richmond (Va.) Newspapers, 1861, 1862; S. S. Cox's Three Decades ; Battles and Leaders 
of the Civil War; Recollections of a Virginian, by General Dabney H. Maury. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. Tell of the forces in the Mississippi below Ne'sv Orleans. 
2. Of the advance of the Federal fleet to the city. 3. What was the state of 
affairs in the city ? 4. Describe the taking of the city and General Butler's 
conduct there. 5. What great losses had the Confederates suffered ? 6. Tell 
of the new conscription law. 7. Who now became commander of the Armv of 
Mississippi? 8. What was his first plan ? 9. Tell of N. B. Forrest. 10." Of 
John H. Morgan. 11. Where did Bragg lead his ai-my? 12. Describe the 
battle of Richmond, Kentucky. 13. The capture of Louisville. 14. What 
two battles took place in Mississippi? 15. With what results? 16. Where 
was Bragg at this time ? 17. Tell of the battle of Periy ville. 18. What was 
the result of the campaign so far? 19. Who now visited the army in Tennes- 
see? 20. What great battle was fought on the last day of 1862? 21. De- 
scribe the three fights and give the names of the commanders. 22. What were 
the results on both sides ? 23. Tell of the burning of Holly Springs. 24. Of 
the Confederate cruisers. 25. What was the condition of the Confederacy at 
the close of 1862? 



CHAPTER LXXIII. 

LINCOLN' 8 ADMINISTRATION, CONTINUED.— 1862. 

West Virginia. Formed. — Battles and marches do not com- 
prise the whole history of a country even in time of a great 
war, and we must look at the political events and the social 
condition of the people. Mr. Lincoln had never acknow- 
28 



434 History of the United States. 

ledged that a State could go out of the Union; and, early in 
1861, that part of the State of Virginia — forty-eight coun- 
ties — which refused to take part in secession, was recognized 
as if it were the whole State, and was allowed to send repre- 
sentatives and senators to Congress at Washington. The 
governor of this pretended State was Francis H. Pierpoint. 
When Tennessee was occupied by the Federal troops, after 
the fall of Donelson, Andrew Johnson was appointed "Mili- 
tary Governor " of the State by the United States authori- 
ties, and persons sent to the Federal Congress were allowed 
the same privileges as members legally elected. 

Two Governments in Missouri and Kentucky. — Partial 
Conventions were held in Missouri and Kentucky which 
voted these States into the Confederacy, and created " pro- 
visional legislatures." Representatives elected by them or 
by the soldiers from these States, were given seats in the 
Confederate Congress, and so there was at the same time, a 
Congressional representation from Virginia, Kentucky, and 
Missouri, both at Washington and Richmond. 

Mr. Lincoln's View of Slavery in 1861. — The lack of suc- 
cess to the Union armies, notwithstanding their immense 
^ expenditure of money and human life, 
seemed to call for some unusual and 
vigorous measures, to break down the 
South and strengthen the Northern 
cause. At first, as has been told you, 
Mr. Lincoln himself expressly dis- 
claimed that the question of slavery 
had anything to do with the conflict 
between the two sections of the coun- 
try. In his inaugural address, he said 
that he had no purpose, directly or in- 
directlv, to interfere with the institu- 
DAviD HUNTER, U.S.A. ^j^j^ ^f slavcry, aud averred that he 

had no inclination or lawful right to do so. In his first an- 
nual message he referred to and re-affirmed these senti- 
ments. He also repeatedly said that he should be guided 
by the Constitution. Congress, as we have seen, had on 
more than one occasion declared that it had no power to in- 
terfere with slavery. President Lincoln had also rebuked 
General Fremont in Missouri, and General Hunter in Florida, 




Lincobi's Administration, 1862. 435 

for proclaiming the slaves free in their several military dis- 
tricts. 

Change of View. — Time and disappointed hopes of speedy 
victory changed all this. It was bitter to confess that the 
Southern leaders were better generals, and the Confederate 
armies, though so much smaller and badly equipped, better 
soldiers than the hosts they so often defeated; and some mode 
must be devised for striking them, more effective than in the 
field. The valor and prowess of the South were beginning, 
too, to influence the mind of Europe, and it was desirable to 
invoke prejudice once more to her discredit. As early as the 
summer of 1861, it had been proposed in the Federal Congress 
to confiscate and free any slaves employed by their owners 
in aiding the Confederate Government. In March, 1862, Mr. 
Lincoln urged Congress to make provision for compensating 
such States as should arrange for the gradual emancipation 
of their slaves; and also suggested that the negroes thus 
freed should be colonized out of the country. The border 
States did not favor the idea and it was believed to require 
too much money, so that nothing definite was done. 

Emancipation Proclamation, 1862. — An Act passed in Wash- 
ing, in the summer of 1862, confiscated all the property — 
slaves especially — of persons engaged in what the North 
called "the Rebellion." Finding that this law enlisted the 
sympathies and gratified the hostile sentiment of much of 
the North, especially of New England, Mr. Lincoln issued, 
on September 22d, just after the battle of Sharpsburg, a 
Proclamation declaring that after the 1st of January, 1863, 
slavery should cease to exist in any of the seceded States 
which should not by that time have returned to its alle- 
giance to the Union. 

Objects of the Proclamation. — This Proclamation might 
appear inoperative, but it had three special objects : to 
stir up the slaves, hitherto very peaceable and docile, to 
turn against their masters, and thereby weaken the South- 
ern armies by compelling the white men to remain at home 
to protect their families from the outrage and violence of 
the negroes; to make the people of Europe believe that the 
South was fighting to maintain slavery, if it did not at once 
throw down its arms and acquiesce in this wholesale rob- 
bery; and to place the Democratic party, always opposed to 



436 History of the United States. 

meddling with the question which it believed each State must 
settle for itself, in antagonism to the administration, and 
make it appear unwilling to carry on the war. Many peo- 
ple believed that a meeting of the " Loyal Governors," held 
about this time at Altoona, Pennsylvania, had persuaded 
Mr. Lincoln to issue this proclamation; others averred that 
he did it without seeking advice from any one. If the gov- 
ernors did not originate they endorsed it, saying that it 
" struck at the root of the rebellion," and they pledged all 
the resources of their States to support it and the policy of 
the Federal Government. 

Effects of the Proclamation. — When the Northern elec- 
tions came on, in November, it was shown that the emanci- 
pation of the Southern slaves, and the arrests and imprison- 
ment of Northern citizens, were strongly condemned by the 
Democratic party. New York elected governor, by a large 
majority, Horatio Seymour, who had from the first declared 
that compromise measures might have avoided the war, and 
who opposed the Emancipation Proclamation and other 
arbitrary acts of the Washington Government. New Jer- 
sey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, also cast votes 
which, though not enough to defeat the party in power, 
showed that a large part of their citizens looked with disfa- 
vor and alarm upon the measures so lately sprung upon the 
country in violation of individual liberty and constitutional 
right. At the South, the Proclamation called forth a new 
outburst of patriotism and devotion, as it proved that in the 
name of " preserving the Union," the Northern Adminis- 
tration had resolved to trample upon all law, to defy the 
Constitution, and to work its will by any and every means 
at its command. 

Emancipation, January 1, 1863. — The Proclamation of 
September, 1862, was followed by that of Emancipation on 
January 1, 1863, in which President Lincoln pronounced 
all the slaves in the Southern States, except in the districts 
occupied and ruled by Federal authorities, absolutely and 
forever free. Of course, this could not affect any negroes 
who were out of the reach of the Federal armies. But, 
from this time, wherever those armies advanced, vast num- 
bers of the negroes left their homes and flocked to the 
Northern camps where they expected to be sheltered and 



Lincoln's Administratiou, 1862. 



437 



fed in idleness. It was the common belief among them that 
every man thus leaving his master would receive " forty 
acres and a mule/' in reward for so doing. What to do 
with the idle, ignorant crowds pouring into their jurisdic- 
tions, became a very troublesome question to the Federal 
commanders. Thousands of the able-bodied men were em- 
ployed as teamsters and camp servants, while others in 
large numbers were enlisted in the army and formed into 
companies and regiments. To feed the incompetent crowds 
which hung about them, often required more rations than 
were consumed by the armies themselves. In many places, 
valuable tracts and districts from which the white owners 
had been driven were given over by the Federal authorities 
to the negroes, who quickly reduced them to rank wilderness 
or barren deserts. 

War Prices. — In the North, where, although gold and sil- 
ver were rarely seen, paper money — "greenbacks" — was 
abundant, prices had risen considerably by the close of 1862. 
But as there was ample employment in the workshops and 
manufactories, and as the large bounties and the substi- 
tute fees paid to the soldiers made provision for their fami- 
lies, there was general prosperity and little want. The South 
had never had anything but 
paper money, and it had by 
this time become almost 
worthless. Cut off from the 
supplies for which it had de- 
pended upon the Northern 
States and Europe, the South 
had to pay high prices for 
everything 

scarce at $20 a pound. Tea 
cost even more. Kid gloves, 
brought in by an occasional blockade runner, ranged from 
$5 to $25. Paper, books, shoes, fine dress goods, pins, nee- 
dles, buttons, scissors, sewing materials, all the thousand 
little necessities of daily life, were becoming scarce and com- 
manded ten times their former value in the large cities. In 
the villages and country they could hardly be gotten at all. 
Sewing machines wore out and could not be repaired, and even 
hand sewing was difficult for want of needles. Silk fringes, 



Coffee was very ,^ 




PRICE OF A BARREL OF FLOUR. 



438 



Historu of the United States. 



homespun cotton, and flax thread, were utilized to mend 
the cherished old garments, or make the rare new ones. 
Colleges were closed, because professors and students had 
all gone to the army. Grammar schools were maintained 
in some places where a disabled teacher taught such pupils 
as were able to pay for tuition in money or provisions. 

Suffering in the South. — To carry food for the armies over- 
taxed the capacities of the southern railroads, and each sec- 
tion of country must raise enough to keep its inhabitants 
from starvation. When the armies swept over a district 
or sat down to consume its resources, the people had either 
to abandon their homes or suffer the pangs of hunger and 
destitution. And, as time went on, the n^eds and sufferings 
of the people increased, until they can scarcely be imagined 
or described. 

Exchange of Prisoners. — The difficulty and uncertainty 
as to tlie treatment of prisoners added greatly to the suffer- 
ings of the soldiers, and to the anxieties of their friends at 
home. At first, the North refused to make any arrangement 

for exchanging pris- 
oner s, though the 
commanders in the 
field frequently took 
the matter into their 
own hands, exchang- 
ing the captured ofii- 
cersand soldiers, man 
for man, as long as the 
n u m b e r s remained 
equal, and paroling 
others. Late in 1861, 
the Federal Congress 
insisted that the War 
Department should 
arrange for an imme- 
diate exchange of all 
prisoners. The South 
at this time held the greater number. Efiforts were made 
by the Federal War Department to evade an exchange, but 
the people insisted, and, in July, 1862, General Dix, United 
States Army, and General D. H. Hill, Confederate States 




1>. H. HILL, N. C. 



Lincohi's Administratmi, 1862. 439 

Army, signed a cartel for the exchange of prisoners on both 
sides. Sometimes this was observed, and soldiers from both 
armies were returned to their respective commands after a 
brief captivity. 

War Prisoners. — The Confederate Government was de- 
sirous that all prisoners should be released at once either by 
exchange or parole, and this was carried out with tolerable 
success until the summer of 1863, during which time the 
South held the excess of prisoners. After that time, the 
North, with ample resources to provide for its armies and 
its captives, rarely permitted exchanges, and congregated 
the Southern prisoners in various forts and prison camps, 
where hardship, privation, and cruelty either tortured or de- 
stroyed them. Compelled by this action of the Federal Gov- 
ernment, the South, with scanty food and comforts for its 
own soldiers and people, was also obliged to select places of 
confinement for the thousands of Northern soldiers who fell 
into its hands. Their food was poor and the shelters pro- 
vided for them rude and comfortless. But they had as 
much, sometimes more than did the soldiers in the field, 
and their huts and barracks were better than the brush 
arbors and dug-outs and the hard ground which formed the 
quarters of their hungry, ill-clad, but brave captors. 

West Virginia Admitted to the Union, 1863. — Late in 1862, 
the forty-eight counties of western Virginia, mentioned in 
the beginning of this chapter, organized a provisional gov- 
ernment and applied to the United States Congress for ad- 
mission into the Union as the State of " West Virginia." 
The Constitution provided that "no new State shall be 
formed or erected within the jurisdiction of another State, 
without the consent of the Legislature concerned as well as 
of Congress." Virginia was never consulted on the subject. 
She would not have consented to such wholesale robbery of 
nearly one-half of the territory she had held since her gene- 
rous donation to the Union of the great Northwest. But, 
notwithstanding this, the illegal request of the unconstitu- 
tional State was granted, and West Virginia was admitted 
into the Union during the following spring. 

AUTHORITIES.— Draper's History of the Civil War; Rldpath's History of the 
United States ; Life of Leonidas Polk, by his son ; Reports and Correspondence in 
(iovernment War Records; Davis's Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government ; 
Pollard's Lost Cause; Raymond's Life of Lincoln; McPherson's Political History of 



440 History of the United States. 

the Rebellion ; Richmond (Va.) newspapers, 1861, 1862; S. S. Cox's Three Decades ; Bat- 
tles and Leaders of the Civil War; Recollections of a Virginian, by General Dabney 
H. Maury. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. What action was taken by the United States Govern- 
ment with reference to forty-eight counties of Virginia ? 2. In what States 
were there two governments ? 3. Wliat were Mr. Lincoln's views of slavery 
in 1861 ? 4. What now caused a change in them ? 5. What act was passed in 
September, 1862? 6. What were the objects of this proclamation? 7. Its 
effects? 8. When did emancipation take place? 9. How did some of the 
negroes behave ? 10. Tell something of the war prices. 11. Of the suffer- 
ing at the South. 12. What was done about the exchange of prisoners? 
18. What is said of the war-prisons ? 14. When was West Virginia admitted 
to the Union ? 



CHAPTER LXXIV. 

LINCOLN'S ABMINISTRA TION, CONTINUED.— 1863. 

Attack on Galveston. — Before going into the story of the 
great battles of this year, events on the coast claim atten- 
tion. The bad weather and bad roads prevented much 
moving of armies during the winter. But, on the coast and 
along the river shores, no such difficulty was found. Late 
in 1862, General John B. Magruder was sent from Virginia 
to take command in Texas. The Federal authorities had 
possession of Galveston and nearly the whole coast of the 
State. Galveston Island was held by a garrison of several 
hundred soldiers, and the harbor was guarded by four fine 
vT^ — . — .- - ., gunboats, accompanied by some armed trans- 
ports. General Magruder had two river steam- 
boats, which he covered with cotton bales to 
protect them from the enemy's shot and 
armed with a few heavy guns. He collected 
such field artillery as was at hand, and, with 
this and the cotton-clad boats, assisted by a 
small infantry force, he proceeded to attack 
the l^ederal gunboats and garrison. Ihe 
shore batteries opened fire on the Federal vessels. The two 
steamboats attacked the Harriet Lane, the strongest of the 
gunboats. One of them was quickly disabled, but the other 
closed with the Harriet Lane, boarded and captured her. 
The W^stfield, the flag-ship of the United States squadron, 




Lincoln's Administration, 1863. 441 

in getting out of range of the batteries, ran aground and 
stuck fast. 

Capture of Galveston. — Magruder summoned the fleet to 
surrender. They ran up flags of truce to consider the mat- 
ter. Commodore Crenshaw refused to surrender, and made 
arrangements to blow up the Westfield, in order to give the 
other vessels time to get out of the harbor. In the explo- 
sion, the commodore and some fifteen persons were killed. 
The other ships made their escape. Seeing that the fleet 
had left them, the garrison surrendered, and Galveston was 
again in Confederate hands. In this exploit, one fine steam- 
ship and two barges were captured, the flagship destroyed, 
two other steamers driven off, 600 prisoners and a quantity 
of valuable stores captured; and all this was done with two 
river boats, manned by cavalry and artillery, with the help 
of land batteries and a small infantry force. 

Sabine Pass. — A Federal expedition of a number of gun- 
boats, accompanied by transports carrying 5,000 infantry 
and 46 cannon, was defeated at Sabine Pass on September 
8th, by the guns in the small fort at that point. The water 
was so shallow that only four of the gunboats could enter 
the Pass. Two of these were soon disabled by the firing 
from the fort, and surrendered. The others retreated, and 
the whole attacking force withdrew to other places on the 
coast, having lost two gunboats, several hundred prisoners, 
and a number of cannon. 

Federal Advance on Charleston. — On the last day of Jan- 
uary, 1863, two small ironclad steamers ran out of Charles- 
ton Harbor before daybreak, attacked the blockading fleet 
and disabled and captured two large war vessels. Prepara- 
tions were made on 
a large scale to at- 
t a c k Charleston. 
The city was es- 
pecially disliked at 
ihe North, where it 
was looked upon as 

,, T, J. FORT WAGNER. 

the cradle oi seces- 
sion, and there was a great desire that it should be captured 
and humbled by April 14th, the anniversary of the sur- 
render of Fort Sumter. To carry out this wish, a powerful 




442 History of the United States. 

fleet of seven monitors, two ironclad steamers and a number 
of wooden gunboats commanded by Admiral Dupont, sailed 
from Port Royal and entered the outer harbor at Charles- 
ton on the 7th of April. 

Attack and Defeat. — General Beauregard had been em- 
ployed for some time in strengthening the defences of the 
harbor. By his direction the fleet was permitted to pass 
the batteries on Morris Island without receiving a shot. 
When the vessels came within gunshot of Fort Sumter, the 
guns of the fort opened upon them, and at once all the 
batteries on the islands near by joined in the cannonade. 
The ironclads fought fiercely, hurling shot and shell at all 
the batteries, but directing their principal fury against 
Fort Sumter. Strong iron cables, stretched from Sumter to 
Fort Moultrie prevented the vessels from passing through 

j- — -- - ^ the channel. Other waterways were 

I .^Bfc^. obstructed by piles. A direct attack 

j ^T* ^%- upon Fort Sumter was therefore un- 

avoidable. The firing became ter- 
rific, but the Southern guns proved 
too strong for the fleet. The monitor 
Keokuk, which had ventured closest 
to Sumter, w^as disabled and forced 
to creep away in a few minutes, and 

i^ ^^^"^ than an hour, the whole of the 

llll^^^^^^^flH^H powerful iron fleet was compelled to 

withdraw. The Keokuk sank near 
Q.A.GiLMOBK,u.s.A. Morrls Island, and, others of the 

monitors being disabled by the Southern guns. Admiral Du- 
pont returned to Port Royal. Other attacks upon Charles- 
ton later in the summer by General Gilmore were equally 
unsuccessful, and the brave little city continued unhurt. 

Hooker in Command in Virginia. — The great campaigns of 
1863 opened in Virginia. After the battle of Fredericks- 
burg, General Burnside shared the fate of his predecessors 
and was superseded by General Hooker, " Fighting Joe," 
as he had been called, from his bravery in the field. Hooker 
had advised Burnside to advance against Lee by the upper 
fords of the Rappahannock, and, as soon as the roads and 
weather permitted, proceeded to make this move himself. 
For three months, he had been employed in increasing and 



Lincoln's Administration, 186$. 443 

disciplining his army, whicli in April numbered 120,000 
infantry and artillery, 12,000 cavalry, and more than 400 
cannon. 

Lee's Troops. — To lessen the difficulty of feeding men and 
horses, General Lee had sent part of Longstreet's corps into 
the country south of Petersburg, and had retained about 
40,000 men between Fredericksburg and Richmond to pro- 
tect that city and the railroads leading to it. At one time, 
indeed, owing to furloughs granted the soldiers and other 
causes, there were only 30,000 troops in the-Army of North- 
ern Virginia. By the latter part of April it had been in- 
creased to 53,000 of all arms. 

Hooker's Move to Chancellorsville. — To conceal his inten- 
tion of crossing the upper Rappahannock and attacking Lee 
on his left flank, Hooker sent Stoneman, with some 10,000 
cavalry, to pass round and destroy the railroads between the 
Confederate army and Richmond. While this move was 
made by the upper fords, on April 29th, Sedgwick, with 
37,000 men, appeared on the heights below Fredericksburg, 
as if another advance were intended there. Hoping that he 
had deceived his antagonist by these measures. Hooker pro- 
ceeded to execute his plan. Moving up the Rappahannock, 
the main army crossed that river and the Rapidan, and, by 
the evening of the 30th, four corps of the army had reached 
Chancellorsville, a plantation settlement in the midst of a 
large extent of young trees and undergrowth so dense and 
wild as to have acquired the title of " The Wilderness." 
Two other corps came up the next day, making 90,000 in 
all. Hooker established his headquarters in Mr. Chancel- 
lor's house, and issued an order to his troops in which he 
assured them that " the enemy must either ingloriously fly, 
or come out from behind his defences and give us battle on 
our own ground where certain destruction awaits him." 

Lee's Move. — Inglorious flight or certain destruction had 
not, as yet, been the experience of Lee's army. The South- 
ern commander understood General Hooker's intentions, 
and proceeded to frustrate them. Leaving Early, with 9,000 
infantry and an artillery force with 45 guns, to hold Sedg- 
wick back, Lee moved towards Chancellorsville, with about 
43,000 men, on May 1st. The advance troops of the two 
armies soon became engaged, on the evening of May 2d, 



444 History of the United States. 

but, as one after another brigade of Confederates pressed 
forward to support its comrades, the Federal advance was 
driven back upon their main army which was strongly in- 
trenched around Chancellorsville. Judging the spirit of 
his enemies from th'eir falling back, and feeling that a di- 
rect attack upon the breastworks in front must occasion 
great loss of life, Lee determined again to divide his forces, 
and to try a detour to the flank and rear of his adversary. 
Jackson was, therefore, sent by a road leading to the south- 
west, until he sJ:iould strike another road through the Wil- 
derness, which would carry him to the rear of Hooker's po- 
sition. This movement of troops was construed by the 
Federal officers as "a retreat," and a force was sent to find 
out what it meant, but it was easily repulsed. To occupy 
the enemy's attention and prevent his sending a larger force 
after Jackson, General Lee made repeated demonstrations 
on the front with infantry and artillery. 

Jackson's Victory. — After a march of fifteen miles, the lat- 
ter part right through the Wilderness thickets, Jackson 
reached a point sufficiently in rear of the Federal army 
to make his attack. So near had the Confederates come 
without being discovered, that they could see through the 
trees Howard's men who held the Federal right. Upon 
these unsuspecting soldiers who had stacked their arms and 
Were preparing their supper, Jackson's men fell like a thun- 
derbolt from a cloudless sky. Though they had marched 
fast and far, the Southern troops were full of ardor, and in 
a few moments the 11th Federal corps, changed by the 
surprise into a demoralized rabble, was flying in terror to- 
wards Chancellorsville, abandoning everything in its flight. 
On swept the Southerners, crashing through the brushwood, 
clambering over the breastworks, driving everything before 
them; until shortly before nightfall, they carried the earth- 
works only two miles from Hooker's headquarters, and cap- 
tured all the guns and many of the men who held them. 
Had daylight lasted an hour longer, they might have cap- 
tured Hooker's stronghold and destroyed his whole army. 

Jackson's Wound. — Jackson seemed inclined to make a 
night attack, and, while waiting for fresh troops from the 
rear to take the place of the front lines which had so far 
done the fighting, he rode forward with a number of his 



Lincoln's Administratio7i, 1863. 445 

staff to reconnoitre the enemy's position. In returning to 
the Confederate lines, his party was mistaken in the dark- 
ness for a squad of Federal cavalry, and was fired into by 
their friends. Two of them fell dead, and among those 
severely wounded was Jackson himself. The general was 
placed on a litter and taken to the rear for surgical treat- 
ment. One of his bearers was killed by a Federal can- 
nonade. The same shooting wounded General A. P. Hill, 
second in command. General J. E. B. Stuart was sent for 
by the brigadiers, and, coming from his cavalry outposts, 
assumed control of the corps. 

Renewal of the Battle. — General Lee, learning of Jack- 
son's wound, directed Stuart to continue the attack and 
sent him Anderson's division from the 
front. Much Confederate artillery came 
up and was well posted during the night. 
At dawn of Sunday, May 3d, the attack was 
renewed. The men were rested and seemed 
eager to avenge their wounded commander. 
Artillery could now be used to advantage. 
As the infantry charged the breastworks 
and swept the Federal soldiers out of them, 
the guns were brought forward from point 
to point, until at last the central position 
at Chancellorsville alone remained to be carried. General 
Lee had come from the front, and his presence and coolness 
added to the courage and determination of his men. The 
Federal troops fought stoutly and twice repulsed the on- 
slaught of the Southerners. But a third attack carried the 
foremost heights. Artillery was pushed forward to their 
crest. A tremendous fire opened, and by 10 A. M. Chancel- 
lorsville was won. In the mean time, McLaws had made 
such vigorous demonstrations on their front that Hancock 
and Couch had been unable to aid their comrades on the 
right. 

Burning of the House and Woods. — General Hooker had 
been stunned by the concussion of a shell, and there was no 
efficient head left to the Federal army, which was still more 
than double the number of its assailants, and of which two 
corps had not been engaged. Unable to hold Chancellors- 
ville, they fell back to a heavy line of intrenchments nearer 




446 History of the United States. 

to the Rappahannock. The woods around Chancellorsville 
and the house itself were in flames from the explosion of 
shells. The burning house was full of Federal wounded. 
To rescue them and others exposed in the burning woods, 
was General Lee's first care. This done, he gave his atten- 
tion to re-forming the weary troops which had become scat- 
tered in the stressof battle, and prepared to attack the Fede- 
ral army in its new position. 

Sedgwick's Attack. — Before this advance, news came to 
General Lee that Early had fallen back from Fredericksburg, 
that Sedgwick had occupied the town and the Confederate 
works and was moving upon his rear, his march being stub- 
bornly contested by the small Confede- 
rate force opposed to him. To meet this 
rear attack of Sedgwick, Lee found it 
necessary to take some of the force 
\ hich had already fought for part of 
wo days. Wilcox, with the aid of some 
f these troops, repulsed Sedgwick with 
great slaughter from the heights around 
Salem church, on the night of the 3d. 
On the morning of the 4th, General 
Early moved back and recaptured Fred- 
ericksburg and its defences, and then 
R. H. ANDERSON, s. c. jj^ j^jg ^um advauccd upon Sedgwick's 
reat. Lee, at the same time, attacked him with McLaws's 
and Anderson's divisions, and drove his force back to the 
river, which, under the cover of night and fog, it succeeded 
in crossing. Lee then marched his men back to renew the 
attack upon Hooker. 

Defeat of Hooker at Chancellorsville. — That commander, 
on the 5th, sent a flag of truce to Lee, requesting permis- 
sion to send men to the battle-field to bury the dead and care 
for the wounded. General Lee declined to allow it, on ac- 
count of the " necessities of war." Hooker then took ad- 
vantage of a violent storm and moved off with his still large 
army; and when Lee's skirmish line advanced on the morn- 
ing of May 6th, there was no enemy to fight. Hooker had 
promised the "certain destruction" of his adversary; and 
great was the disappointment and alarm at Washington 
and throughout the North at his utter discomfiture: 17,000 




Lincoln's Administration, 1863. 



447 




men, 13 pieces of artillery, 19,500 stand of arms, 17 flags, 
and much ammunition, is the summing up of his losses. 

Death of Jackson. — The Confederates bought their victory 
dearly by the loss of 10,281 men 
and 8 guns. But beyond all other 
losses was that of Jackson himself. 
His wound on the night of May 2d 
required that his left arm should 
be taken off. Fever and pneu- 
monia followed, and, on May 10th, 
one week after the victory made 
possible by his masterly flank 
movement upon Hooker, he ex- 
pired. On hearing of his wound, 
General Lee exclaimed, "Any vic- 
tory is a dear one which deprives 
us of the services of Jackson for 
even a short time." The justness 
of this feeling was proved by after 
events. There were other generals 
as brave, as devoted, as patriotic as 
Jackson, but there was no one of 
them who possessed, at the same time, his keen military in- 
sight, his rapidity of movement, his daring in attack, and 
that wonderful aptitude for victory which made both his own 
soldiers and the enemy believe him invincible. Well might 
his death be lamented throughout the Southern land he 
loved so well. His body was taken to Richmond, where it 
lay in state in the Capitol, to be visited by thousands of 
mourning Southerners; it was then carried to his home in 
Lexington, where his mortal dust now reposes. 

Religion in the Army of Northern Virginia. — General Lee 
marched his army back to the lines at Fredericksburg, re- 
modelled it into three corps, under Longstreet, Ewell, and 
A. P. Hill, and made rapid preparations for another advance 
across the Potomac. No record of this year would be com- 
plete which did not speak of the remarkable religious feel- 
ing and interest which prevailed throughout the army of 
Northern Virginia, and especially in Jackson's corps. Log 
chapels, where regular services might be held, were built by 
Jackson's men, and the general gave great attention to aid- 



JACKSON MONUMENT 

(Reared by English Admirers). 



448 History of the United States. 

ing the religious work among them, and especially to pro- 
viding them with devout, faithful chaplains. General Lee 
shared this interest in the spiritual welfare of his soldiers; 
and besides his chaplains, his Chief of Artillery, the Rev. 
General Pendleton, was in the constant habit of holding ser- 
vice and preaching on every Sunday and often during the 
week, when the army was not marching or fighting. 

AUTHORITIES.— Draper's History of the Civil War; Ridpath's History of the 
United States; Official Reports and Correspondence in Government War Records; 
Taylor's Four Years with Lee ; Long's Life of Robert E. Lee ; Fitzhugh Lee's Memoir of 
Robert E.Lee; Dabney's Life of General T. J. Jackson; Memoir of General Pendleton 
by his daughter; Battles and Leaders of the Civil War; Davis's Rise and Fall of the 
Confederate Government ; Pollard's Lost Cause. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. Tell of the attack on Galveston. 2. Its capture by Gen- 
eral Magruder. 3. What was done at Sabine Pass ? 4. Where was the next 
naval attack ? 5. Tell of the bombardment of Fort Sumter. 0. Which side 
was successful ? 7. Who were the commanders ? 8. To what State was Gen- 
eral Hooker sent ? 9. Tell of Lee's troops. 10. Of Hooker's move to Chan- 
cellorsville. 11. Of Lee's movements. 12. Relate Jackson's victory. 13. His 
woimd. 14. When was the battle renewed, and with what re.sult? 15. What 
was the condition of the country around ? 16. Tell of Sedgwick's attack. 
17. What became of General Hooker ? 18. What is said of the death of Jack- 
son ? 19. What was the religious feeling in the Army of Northern Virginia ? 



CHAPTER LXXV. 

LINCOLN'S ADMINISTRA TION, C0NTINUED.~1863. 

Lee's Move North. — By the 3d of June, 1863, General 
Lee had increased his army to 68,000 men, with more than 
200 cannon, and began his move first westward across the 
mountains, and then north. Ewell moved 
by Culpeper directly to the Valley. Long- 
street and Stuart kept on the east of the 
mountains, and A. P. Hill remained at 
Fredericksburg, confronting Hooker, whose 
army was about 118,000 strong. When 
Lee's movements were ascertained, the Fed- 
eral army also left Fredericksburg, keeping 

J. L.KEMPER, VA. -^ 1 -tTT 1 • i. /-I -^ AT? 

between Lee and Washington City. A. r. 
Hill then followed his comrades to the Valley. 

Ewell Takes Winchester. — On June 14th, Ewell, whose 
men were principally from the Valley, drove Milroy out of 




Lincoln's Administration, 1863. 



449 



Winchester, capturing 4>000 prisoners, 28 fine guns, several 
hundred loaded wagons and horses, and a large supply of 
food, clothing and other stores. With these the half-clad 
and ill-fed Southerners were refreshed and re-clothed. Mar- 
tinsburg was occupied and the Valley was cleared of Fede- 




MA.P OF GETTYSBURG. 



ral soldiers. The next day, June 15th, Swell's corps crossed 
the Potomac and moved to Hagerstown, where they waited 
for the rest of the Confederate army. From this point they 
advanced into Pennsylvania and occupied Chambersburg, 
Carlisle, and York, for a short time. 
29 



450 History of the United States. 

Orderly Conduct of Lee's Army. — General Lee had two 
objects in this invasion of the North. The lesser one was to 
obtain supplies and subsistence for his army, and by so 
doing to relieve Virginia of the great strain upon her re- 
sources, which had been well nigh exhausted. This could 
not be accomplished without taking possession of the food, 
cattle, horses, and other necessary articles. But this was to 
be done in an orderly and regular manner. Requisitions 
for such things as were found in the towns and villages were 
made upon the authorities by the Southern quartermasters 
and commissaries, and everything taken was to be paid for 
in Confederate money. This was, it is true, worth little in 
Virginia, nothing at all in Pennsylvania, but it was the only 
money the Southern army had. By Lee's order, the soldiers 
and officers were bidden to "abstain with most scrupulous 
care from unnecessary or wanton injury to private property"; 
and immediate punishment was promised to any who should 
violate these directions. The forbearance exercised by the 
troops under this order was wonderful. No violence of any 
sort was done to any citizen, no woman was insulted, and 
no gratification of private I'evenge permitted. Their mag- 
nanimous conduct was in singular contrast to the behavior 
of the Federal armies in the South, whose course was gene- 
rally marked by "barbarous outrages upon the innocent and 
defenceless, and the wanton destruction of private property." 

Approach to Gettysburg. — Lee's more important purpose, 
in invading Pennsylvania, was to draw the Federal Army 
from Virginia, and to such a distance from the strong fortifi- 
cations around Washington that it could not again take shel- 
ter there after the stunning blows he hoped to inflict upon it. 
Great was the consternation and apprehension of the North, 
when it learned that Lee's army was actually in Pennsylvania, 
and approaching the capital of the State. Washington, 
Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York each expected to 
see it marching through their streets. The governors of 
Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, and West Vir- 
ginia, called out the militia of their several States, and the 
whole country was in an agony of terror. In consequence 
of a disagreement between General Halleck and himself. 
General Hooker was relieved, at his own request, from the 
command of the army, which was given to General George 



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Lincoln's Administration, 1863. 451 

G. Meade, June 28, 1863. General Meade was directed to 
meet and fight Lee, and, at the same time, to keep between 
him and Washington and Baltimore. Hooker's army had 
crossed the Potomac east of the mountains 
before Meade took command. Reinforce- 
ments were hurried up to it, and the dif- 
erent corps were directed to march for 
Gettysburg. Lee had also recalled his scat- 
tered divisions to concentrate at that place. 
Unfortunately for the Confederate army. 
General Stuart was not in position to keep 

, T-Tf.jiT-11 1 G. G. MEADE, O. S. A. 

its commander advised oi the r ederal move- 
ments. He had been directed by General Lee to take three of 
his brigades of cavalry and go to protect Swell's right flank, 
but the route by which he should go was left to his own dis- 
cretion. Acting on a suggestion of General Longstreet, 
Stuart crossed the Potomac so far to the east that he found 
the whole Federal army between him and General Lee. By 
hard riding and fighting, inflicting much damage on the 
way, he reached Carlisle, and finding Ewell gone, followed 
him rapidly to Gettysburg, which he reached on July 2nd, 
after the battle had begun. On the morning of July 1st, 
k. P. Hill's advance struck the head of the Federal army 
west of Gettysburg. Sharp fighting ensued. Hill brought 
up more troops. The 1st and 11th corps of the Federal 
army moved to support their cavalry. Ewell, moving from 
York, pressed forward to the sound of the firing, and a battle 
raged for six hours, in which some 50,000 men were engaged. 
Battle of Gettysburg. — In the first encounter, the Federal 
forces were driven from the town of Gettysburg with severe 
loss. Their commander, General Reynolds, was killed and 
General Hancock was ordered to take his place. But, in 
withdrawing, the Federals occupied a very strong position — 
Cemetery Ridge — south of the town. General Lee came 
up towards the close of the fight, and directed Ewell to seize 
Cemetery Hill, if he could do so without bringing on a gen- 
eral engagement. The men were, however, much exhausted 
by hard marching and fighting, and it was thought best to 
wait until the next morning. In the evening hours, Gen- 
eral Lee and other officers examined the ground, and Lee 
made his plans for attacking and driving the Federals from 



452 



History of the United States. 




G. T. ANDERSON, GA. 



Cemetery Hill before the rest of Meade's army came up, 
Longstreet's corps was only four miles away, while much of 
the Federal force was very much farther off. General Long- 
street, however, was averse to delivering 
battle at Gettysburg, and, instead of attack- 
ing early on the morning of the 2d, he was 
not ready to do so until 4 o'clock in the 
afternoon. During his long delay, the 
Federal army had come up and occupied 
most of the heights south of Cemetery Hill. 
Hancock's 2d corps had marched thirteen 
miles during the night; Sykes's 5th corps, 
twenty-six miles since the previous morning; Sedgwick's 
6th corps, thirty-two miles. The first two reached the field 
at seven in the morning; Sedgwick's command at 2 P. M.; 
their eager rapidity of movement giving a strong contrast 
to Longstreet's tardy appearance. 

Second Day's Fight. — When the Southern troops did go 
into action, the battle raged furiously, and Longstreet on the 
right drove the Federal troops from their advanced posi- 
tions, while Ewell on the left, at one time succeeded in 
reaching the crest of Cemetery Hill, but was so greatly out- 
numbered by his opponents that he could not hold it. 
Cemetery and Culp's Hills were the northern, and the 
Round Tops the southern extremities of the ridge running 
southeast of Gettysburg. Perceiving that Little Round 
Top was an important position. Hood's Tex- 
ans, who had driven Sickles back through 
the Peach Orchard, marched forward and 
swarmed up the rocky slope. Vincent's 
brigade of the 5th Federal corps, climbed 
the other side of the hill, reached the top a 
moment before the Texans, and a hand-to- 
hand fight for the summit ensued. For 
half an hour the struggle continued. The 
Federals had a firmer foothold and forced the Texans back, 
and when night came, although the Southern army had 
driven the Federal troops out of the valleys to their defences 
on the hills, the latter held the crests and continued to 
fortify and strengthen them. Thousands of brave men had 
fallen on both sides, and the decisive struggle had not yet 
taken place. 




D. E. SICKLES, U. S. A. 



Lincoln s Administration, 1863. 



453 




Third Day's Fight — Pickett's Charge. — The Federal losses 
were known to be very heavy, and it was hoped that, by 
a lierce and combined attack in the early morning of the 
3d, their positions might be carried and a victory achieved. 
To this end, Longstreet was directed to attack on the right 
with Pickett's three brigades, who had not yet been engaged, 

while Ewell was ordered to assail 

the works in his front at the same 
time — at daylight. Heth's division 
of three brigades of North Carolina, 
Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennes- 
see troops and one from Virginia, 
all under command of the gallant 
General Pettigrew and supported 
by two of Pender's North Carolina 
brigades, were to attack on Pick- 
ett's left. Wilcox's Alabamians 
were to support him on his right. 
Again Longstreet was not ready to 
move, and the Federal right, antici- 
pating Ewell's attack, opened on 
him at 4 A. M. a heavy artillery 
fire with guns which had been brought up during the night 
It was noon before the Confederate preparations for the gen- 
eral battle were completed. The plan was for Longstreet's 
force to attack Cemetery Hill at a comparatively weak point. 
The Confederate artillery was concentrated towards the 
Hill, and at 1 P. M., 150 guns opened fire. The powerful 
Federal batteries replied, and for more than an hour the 
most furious artillery engagement ever heard 
on this continent ensued. The Federal 
guns seemed beaten into silence by the Con- 
federate batteries, the firing ceased, and 
Pickett's division advanced across the open 
plain to charge the breastworks on the Hill. 
The ammunition of the Confederates was 
nearly exhausted, and their artillery could 
not reply to the storm of shot and shell 
hurled into the advancing columns. Undeterred by this, 
the devoted command moved steadily forward, broke into a 
double-quick, drove everything before them, leaped into 



G. B. PICKETT, VA. 




H. HETH, VA. 



454 



History of the United States. 



the breastworks, and planted their flags, with shouts of 
victory, on the very crest of Cemetery Hill. Pettigrew's 

brigades, w i t h similar 
dauntless gallantry, 
\ passed over the broad 

field in their front, closed 
the gaps made in their 
lines by the enemy's 
artillery, and rushed 
upon the stone wall in 
spite of the terrific mus- 
ketry fire poured into 
them from behind it. 
Had these two devoted 
divisions been supported 
as General Lee had 
ordered, the key of the 
Federal position might 
have been seized and 
victory wrested from de- 
feat. But the necessary 
supports had not been 
brought up, the Federal 
guns were concentrated 
upon Pickett and Pettigrew, and after one-half of their men 
had been shot down, the band of heroes broke, and fell 
back from the position they had so gallantly gained. 

End of the Battle. — The repulse of this desperate charge 
virtually ended this, the most fierce and bloody battle ever 
fought in America. Lee's heavy losses — 16,000 in killed 
and wounded, and 5,000 prisoners — and the 
deficiency of ammunition, owing to his dis- 
tance from the upper fords of the Potomac, 
prevented him from again attacking Gen- 
eral Meade on the 4th of July. The South- 
ern army was neither dispirited nor dis- 
couraged by this, its first serious repulse, 
but hoped that Meade would now attack 
it, to be hotly received, as Pickett had been, 
and driven off in his turn. General Meade, however felt in 
no condition for such attack. He had lost 23,000 men. 




PETTIGREW, NOETH CAROLINA. 



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W. S. HANCOCK U. S. A. 



Lincoln^ s Administration, 1863. 455 

Some of his best officers were killed. Hancock and Gibbon 
were wounded. He knew that Lee must either fight again 
or withdraw, and he remained quiet to let things take their 
course. After awaiting an attack all day of the 4th, Lee's 
army fell back during the night. The dead had been 
buried, the wounded who could travel were crowded into 
ambulances and wagons and sent back under cavalry escort. 
Those who could not be moved were provided for, and 
the whole force was withdrawn. Heavy rains swelled the 
streams and made the marching difficult, but Meade did 
little to harass his enemy's retreat. 

Return of the Confederate Army to Virginia. — During the 
absence of the Confederate forces, the pontoon bridges by 
which they had crossed the Potomac were destroyed by Fed- 
eral cavalry, and when General Lee reached Williamsport 
on July 7th, he found the river too much swollen to admit 
of fording. He then posted his army on the heights and 
threw up defences, in case Meade should follow him. The 
Federal army did come up on the 12th, but instead of at- 
tacking, General Meade spent two days in fortifying in his 
turn. By this time General Lee had a new bridge ready 
for crossing, the stream had fallen so that cavalry and light 
wagons could ford it, and on the night of the 14th and fore- 
noon of the 15th, the Southern army was safely moved back 
into Virginia. It gradually retired towards Winchester, and 
when Meade, about the end of the month, also crossed the 
Potomac east of the Blue Ridge, Lee moved once more in 
front of him behind the Rapidan River. 

Effects of Gettysburg. — The first of Lee's objects had 
been accomplished, for a short time; the second had failed. 
There was no Jackson to carry out swiftly and surely his 
great commander's plans, and his promptness and ability 
seemed not to have fallen upon any of his successors. The 
battle of Gettysburg was a crushing blow to the South, a 
great success and rejoicing to the North. It stirred up the 
war spirit more fiercely, silenced the party which had been 
clamoring for peace, and discouraged the friends of the 
Confederacy at home and abroad. 

Losses. — In this campaign the Confederate loss was about 
16,000. Many of the wounded were able to return to the 
ranks after a few weeks. Among the killed were Major-Gen- 



456 



History of the United States. 




ARMISTBAD, MD. 



eral Pender, and Brigadier-Generals Armistead, Garnett, 
and Barksdale, all shot in Pickett's charge. The Federal 
loss was over 23,000. Among them were 
Major-General Reynolds killed, and Gene- 
rals Hancock, Sickles, and Gibbon severely 
wounded. Nearly 7,000 prisoners captured 
from them could not be brought off, and 
were paroled on the field. Not much in 
the way of stores could be brought out of 
Maryland, but the officers gladly purchased 
in the towns supplies of pins, needles, gloves, 
and other small and portable articles, which were most wel- 
come to such of the Virginia women as they reached. 

A Campaign of Strategy.— The weeks after Gettysburg 
were devoted to the resting and filling up of the armies. 
Two Federal corps were detached from Meade's command, 
and Lee sent Longstreet with two divisions to reinforce 
Bragg in Tennessee. The third division was sent south of 
James River to check raiding parties and collect supplies. 
There was some cavalry fighting and some small successes 
on both sides, but the preponderance lay with the Federal 
army. The rest of the year was employed in a " campaign 
of strategy," in which each commander tried to outwit the 
other. At last, on the 27th of November, General Meade 
crossed the Rapidan below Lee's position. 
To get between the Federal army and Rich- 
mond, Lee fell back to the hills above Mine 
Run, which he strengthened with earth- 
works. Here he lay for three days await- 
ing Meade's attack. The Federal general 
delivered a heavy cannonade and seemed 
preparing to assail the Southern position. 
Lee determined then to make the attack 
himself, but when the fourth morning came there was no 
enemy there. General Warren, who was to have made the 
first assault upon Lee's position, declined to sacrifice his men 
in what he believed would be a hopeless effort, and the 
whole army was drawn off in the night. This put an end 
to active operations, and both armies went into winter 
quarters. 




K. WAEEEN, U. S. A. 



Lincoln's Administration, 1863. 457 

AUTHORITIES.— Draper's History of the Civil War; Ridpath's History of the 
United States; Official Reports and Correspondence in Government War Records; 
Taylor's Four Years with Lee; Long's Life of Robert E. Lee; Fitzhugh Lee's Memoir of 
Robert E. Lee; Dabney'sLife of General T. J. Jackson; Memoir of General Pendleton 
by his daughter; Battles and Leaders of the Civil War; Davis's Rise and Fall of the 
C()nf3derate Government; Pollard's Lost Cause. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. Where did Lee now move? 3. What city did Ewell 
take on the 14th of June ? 8. What were the two objects of Lee in going into 
Pennsylvania? 4. How did liis army behave ? 5. Tell of the feeling of the 
North when it was known that Lee was in Pennsylvania. 6. Where did the 
two armies meet ? 7. Who was the Federal commander ? 8. Tell of the first 
day at Gettysburg. 9. Of the si^^eond day. 10. Of the third day, and of Pickett's 
famous charge. 11. Of the end of the battle. 12. On which side was the 
victory? 13. Where did Lee's army then move? 14. What were the effects 
of the battle ? 15. The losses ? 16. What sort of a campaign followed ? 



CHAPTER LXXVI. 

LINCOLN'S ADMINISTRATION, CONTINUED.— 1863. 

Grant's Plan to Take Vicksburg, 1863. — We have to tell of 
another victory during this summer as important to the 
North and as crushing to the South as Get- 
tysburg. Federal gunboats and transports 
had several times succeeded in passing the 
batteries at Vicksburg and Port Hudson, but 
most of those making the perilous effort 
were either driven off or destroyed, and the 
Confederates still held the Mississippi River 
between those points. All communication 
between the trans-Mississippi country and 
the eastern part of the Confederacy, all possibility of pass- 
ing troops, cattle, or horses from one side to the other, de- 
pended on their continuing to hold it. General U. S. Grant 
bent all his energies to accomplish the capture of Vicksburg. 
Its defence was intrusted to General John C. Pemberton. 

Approach to Jackson. — After several futile efforts to ap- 
proach the town on the northeast, General Grant decided 
that it was more accessible from the south. He, therefore, 
drew his men northward and crossed them over to the west 
side of the Mississippi. Finding it impracticable to change 
the channel of the river or to open a waterway for his ves- 
sels out of the reach of the Vicksburg batteries, Grant 



T. J. CIU'KClilJ^L. ARK. 



458 



History of ike United States. 




T. C. HINDMAN, AKK. 



marched his men seventy miles around, and crossed them 
back to the east side of the river at Bruinsburg on April 
30th. The efforts made to oppose the ad- 
vance of his army into the country were 
unavailing. Defeating the Confederates at 
Port Gibson and at Raymond, the Federal 
forces moved towards Jackson, the capital 
of Mississippi, mainly subsisting on the 
country through which they passed. 

Grierson's Raid. — General Joseph E. 
Johnston had been assigned to the com- 
mand of all the Confederate forces in the State. He was 
still enfeebled by his wounds, but he came to Jackson and 
endeavored to collect an army of sufficient strength to co- 
operate successfully with Pemberton, who was between Grant 
and Vicksburg. To aid his own operations and cripple 
those of his adversary, General Grant sent Grierson wit'h a 
strong cavalry force to raid through the interior of the State 
and destroy the railroads, bridges, cars, engines, and sup- 
plies of all kinds. 

Pemberton's Movements. — The destruction effected by 
Grierson made it impossible for Johnston to collect rein- 
forcements with rapidity. Two 
corps of the Federal army ap- 
proached Jackson. There were 
only some 6,000 Confederate 
troops there, and, after some 
slight resistance to give time for 
the removal of government effects, 
these withdrew to Canton. The 
Federal troops occupied the town. 
Sherman was left there to destroy 
the railroads, bridges, factories, 
workshops, and everything valu- 
able to the Southern army, while 
McClernand and McPherson 
moved westward to meet and de- 
feat Pemberton. That general had 
been ordered by Johnston to concentrate his forces; to make 
every effort to keep open the communications between himself 
and Johnston; and to strike Grant's rear while he was moving 




J. A. LOGAN, U. S. 



Lincoln's Admrnistration, 1863. 459 

eastward. Johnston was physically unable to take com- 
mand of the army in person, but he ordered Pemberton to 
move towards Clinton so as to join him. Pemberton, how- 
ever, preferred to move southward, and when he began to 
retrace his steps, he did it so slowly that the scattered 
divisions of Grant's command had time to concentrate 
and attack him in force near Edward's Depot on May 
16th. Pemberton was driven back with severe loss across 
Big Black River. On the next day, a still more severe 
engagement took place on the banks of that river, and 
General Pemberton drew his army within the fortifications 
at Vicksburg. 

Pemberton in Vicksburg. — General Johnston had espe- 
cially wished to prevent this shutting up of 34,000 men 
with only two months' provisions, where 
the Federal forces, superior in numbers 
and resources, must ultimately capture or 
destroy them. He wrote to Pemberton 
telling him that if he were once invested, 
he would be compelled to surrender, and 
ordered him to evacuate Vicksburg and 
march towards the northeast. This order 
w. w. LOEiNu, FLA. Qencral Pemberton received on May 18th 
in time to obey it. Considering the holding of Vicksburg 
more important than saving his army to fight elsewhere, he 
wrote to General Johnston that he declined to leave Vicks- 
burg, and shut himself up in the town. 

Vicksburg Besieged. — In falling back, the Confederates 
had destroyed the bridges over the Big Black River, but 
McClernand and McPherson built floating bridges; Sher- 
man, who by this time was marching back from Jackson, 
crossed on a pontoon bridge, and all three approached 
Vicksburg as fast as they could move; and by the morning 
of May* 19th, the investment of the town was complete. 
Hoping to gain entrance into the intrench ments. Grant or- 
dered an assault at 2 P. M. on the 19th, and another more 
vigorous one on the 22d. In both these, he was repulsed 
with such heavy loss that further efforts to carry the works 
were thought useless, and Grant began to lay a regular 
siege to the town. Many of the enemy's dead were left 
within the intrenchments, and these were buried under a 





460 History of the United States. 

flag of truce, all their ammunition and cartridges having 
been previously collecterl by the Confederates. 

Attack From the Boats and Batteries. — The Federal fleet 
and mortar boats joined in the siege on the water front, and 
from the batteries around the city and from the vessels, an 
almost continuous storm of shot and shell 
was poured into the city. Confederate am- 
munition was scanty and their guns rarely re- 
plied. To prevent any successful attack from 
Johnston, General Grant also threw up 
strong fortifications around his rear. His 
army received reinforcements and numbered 
some 80,000 men. General Johnston was 
never able to collect more than 25,000, and 
with these could not operate against Grant so as to benefit 
Vicksburg in the least. 

Cave Life in Vicksburg. — The incessant firing rendered 
all parts of the city unsafe. Such of the citizens as re- 
mained found shelter for themselves and their families in 
caves and chambers hollowed out in the sides of the hills. 
Into these they removed the furniture from their houses, 
and here they dwelt in comparative safety. As the siege 
went on, the soldiers also resorted to similar modes of pro- 
tection when not actually engaged in the trenches. Occa- 
sional messengers from General Johnston made their way 
into the beleaguered town, and carried in caps for the mus- 
kets which were greatly needed. Notwithstanding their 
danger and privations, both people and army kept up cou- 
rageously, and the women constantly ministered to the sick 
and wounded. 

Famine. — The besieging army drew nearer to the defences 
by regular parallels, and dug mines in several places to blow 
up the fortifications and effect an entrance through the 
breaches. The first of these was exploded on June 25th, 
and a second on July 1st. Strong assaults were made on 
both these occasions, but they were repulsed with desperate 
fighting by the hard-pressed Confederates. Before this 
time want of food had become the most powerful ally of the 
besiegers. By the last of May there were only half rations 
of bacon, and from that day supplies of all sorts rapidly 
diminished. Bacon was replaced by mule meat, and of that 



Lincoln's Administration, I860. 461 

there was not half enough. The men were constantly in 
the trenches. The weather was excessively hot; and heat, 
weariness, and hunger were exhausting the strength of the 
garrison. An effort to relieve them from Arkansas proved 
unavailing, and their condition became daily worse. In all 
these privations the citizens fared as hardly as did the 
soldiers. 

The End Near. — General Pemberton sent messages to 
Johnston urging him to attack Grant and raise the siege. 
Johnston replied that it was impossible for their combined 
armies to save A^icksburg, but that, by a simultaneous attack 
on some special point, it might be practicable to extricate 
the garrison from the toils in which it was held. Most of 
the division commanders thought their men too much ex- 
hausted to undertake the desperate work of cutting their 
way out, but expressed their readiness to continue the de- 
fence. Johnston sent word that he was prepared to attack 
Grant on the 7th of July, and urged that the garrison should 
co-operate with him, and if possible make its escape. Be- 
fore that time the end had come. 

Surrender of Vicksburg. — On July 3d, General Pemberton 
sent a flag of truce to General Grant and offered to capitu- 
late. Grant replied that only the unconditional surrender 
of the town and garrison would be accepted. To this 
Pemberton agreed, and on July 4th the capitulation was 
^,.,.«r^-j«t effected : 8 1 ,600 men, thousands of them dis- 

abled by wounds and illness, were surren- 
dered, with 72 cannon and some 60,000 mus- 
kets. The men were paroled and allowed 
to return to their homes. As the paroling 
of so many took some time, the starving Con- 
federates were provided with rations by the 
Federal commissaries. Much kindliness of 
feeling was shown by the soldiers. The 
M. p. LowREY, MISS, u Yauks " gavc provisions and tobacco to the 
starving ''Johnny Rebs," and when the worn and weary 
Confederates marched out of the works which they had gal- 
lantly defended for so long a time, not a cheer of triumph 
was uttered by their captors. This forbearance from a natu- 
ral exultation was no doubt greatly due to General Grant, 
who, in the order for the removal of the prisoners, directed 




462 



History of the United States. 




S. KOSS, TEXAS. 



"the commands to be orderly and quiet as these prisoners 
pass," and " to make no offensive remarks." 

The Confederacy Cut in Two. — It was no wonder that the 
North should be in a delirium of delight and the South 
greatly depressed at the fall of Vicksburg, 
occurring at the same time with Lee's de- 
feat at Gettysburg. Port Hudson surren- 
dered a few days later; the Mississippi 
River was opened to Federal vessels from 
its source to the Gulf, and Louisiana, 
Texas, and Arkansas were cut off from the 
rest of the Confederacy. That they con- 
tinued steadfast to the Southern cause, 
while thus cut off and while their affairs 
were often sadly mismanaged by their military commanders, 
is a proof of their devotion to the principles for which they 
were contending, 

Sherman at Jackson, — General Johnston, who was march- 
ing towards Vicksburg, learned that Pemberton had surren- 
dered and fell back to Jackson. The works defending this 
place were badly situated and of little value. A portion of 
Grant's army under General Sherman moved up and 
brought powerful artillery to bear 
on the fortifications. A consider- 
able Federal force marched north- 
ward to turn Johnston's left flank. 
Knowing that he was far too weak 
to hold Jackson, Johnston re- 
moved most of the public stores 
collected there and all the sick 
and wounded who could stand it, 
and then evacuated the town on 
the night of July 16th. General 
Sherman did not discover this 
movement until it was safely com- 
pleted. He then occupied the 
town, and a work of absolute de- 
struction was begun. Not only 
were the government and railroad buildings destroyed, but 
nearly the whole town was burned. In writing of his work, 
Sherman said, " We have made fine progress to-day in the 




p. BLAIR, JR., tr, S, A. 



Lincoln s Administration, 1863. 463 

work of destruction," and again, " This city is a mass of 
charred ruins." 

Wasting- of the Country. — While the siege of Vicksburg was 
going on, General Grant had sent Blair's division to ravage 
the region along the Yazoo River, to " burn and destroy " the 
food and forage not consumed by the men. Sherman pro- 
ceeded in the same way, "absolutely stripping the country 
of corn, cattle, hogs, sheep, poultry, everything," and throw- 
ing the growing corn "open as pasiture fields." Even the 
ruthless commander himself was forced to acknowledge that 
the wholesale destruction of the country was terrible to con- 
template; and this destruction extended for many miles round 
the desolated capital of the State. General Johnston had 
withdrawn from Sherman's front, and on July 23d, Sher- 
man, having completed his work of destruction, left Jackson 
and moved back towards Vicksburg; and the campaign was 
virtually over. 

AUTHORITIES.— Draper's History of the Civil War; Ridpath's History of the United 
states; Offleial Reports and Correspondence in Government War Records; General 
Grant's Pprsonal Memoirs; Sherman's Memoir; J. E. Johnston's Narrative; Davis's 
Rise and Fall of the Confederate Govei'nment ; Pollard's Lost Cause ; Taylor's Destruc- 
tion and Reconstruction ; Battles and Leaders of the Civil War; Newspapers of the 
Period; Appleton's Annual Cyclopedia; Hood's Advance and Retreat. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. What Wcas the condition of affairs on the Mississippi? 
3. What was Grant's plan ? 3. What places did he take ? 4. Who was the Con- 
federate commander in Mississippi ? 5. Who was in command at Vicksburg ? 
6. What were Pemberton's movements? 7. Did he obey liis superior oiiflcer ? 
8. Tell of the siege of Vicksburg. 9. Of the attacks by land and by water. 
10. Of the cave life of the besieged. 11. What other dreadful enemy had 
they? 13. What plan did .Johnston finally make? 13. Was it carried out? 
14. What took place on the 3d of July? 15. Describe the surrender, and the 
action of the Federal soldiers. 16. What was the effect of the fall of Vicks- 
burg on the Confederacy? 17. Tell of Sherman at Jackson, and of Blair and 
Sherman throughout the country. 18. Find on the map all the places that 
you can. 



CHAPTER LXXVII. 

LINCOLN'S ADMINISTRATION, CONTINUED.— 1863. 

Cavalry Raids. — Two large armies were confronting each 
other in Tennessee, upon which the eyes of the whole 
country were fixed. General Bragg still held the position 




464 History of the United States. 

which be had taken after Murfreesboro. His army was in 
good condition, but, except for raids and expeditions by 
Forrest, Morgan, and others, there had been no fighting 
since spring. Generals Van Dorn and Forrest had checked 
an advance of the Federal cavalry near Franklin in March, 
taking 1,300 prisoners; and Forrest in April captured a 
raiding party under Colonel Streight, who had moved to 
destroy the railroad from Rome to Chattanooga, and took 
1,700 prisoners. 

Morgan's Raid. — Early in .Tune, General Morgan set out 
with 2,000 cavalry on an expedition through Kentucky. His 
orders were to inflict what injury he could upon the Federal 
army by capturing soldiers, destro3''ing military stores and 
government property; to burn bridges and 
break up the Louisville and Nashville rail- 
road; to recruit his command and return 
to his place with Bragg's army. Morgan 
moved rapidly through Tennessee into Ken- 
tucky, capturing a number of small garri- 
sons on his march. At Green River the- 
Federal commander made a successful re- 
sistance. In Kentucky a number of recruits 
were enlisted. The Confederate sympathizers were much 
elated and their opponents equally alarmed. On July 8th, 
the adventurous commander crossed the Ohio River and 
rode through Indiana and Ohio, capturing towns, defeating 
thousand of citizen soldiers, destroying railroads, bridges, 
depots and stores of all kinds, and, passing within seven 
miles of Cincinnati, completed the circuit back to the Ohio 
River again on July 14th. During this rapid ride, Morgan 
had captured and paroled 6,000 prisoners; had cut a net- 
work of railroads; had destroyed about $10,000,000 worth 
of property, besides terrifying the whole population. 

Morgan's Capture and Escape. — But now every effort was 
made to surround and head him off. The governor of Ohio 
called out the militia of the State. Forces were being 
rapidly collected. Morgan's horses and men were worn out. 
The roads were ambuscaded. The Ohio River was closely 
watched and guarded by gunboats and forces on the shore. 
So that while hundreds of Morgan's men succeeded in 
making their way back to Kentucky, hundreds were cap- 



Lincoln's Administration, 1863. 



465 



tured;, and among them their gallant commander. Scant 
courtesy or kindness was measured to thera. Morgan and 
twenty-eight officers were carried to Columbus and confined 
in the penitentiary, where their hgads were shaved and 
they were subjected to other indignities. In November, Mor- 
gan and six of his comrades contrived to dig a tunnel under 
the walls of the prison, and made their escape. 

Bragg at Chattanooga. — General Rosecrans had been 
reinforced. His army numbered 70,000 and the War De- 
partment was urgent for his advance upon Bragg. The 
Confederate army had been 
weakened by sending troops 
to Mississippi and was not 
more than 44,000 strong. On 
June 23d, Rosecrans began 
to move towards the east, in- 
tending to turn Bragg's right, 
get in his rear, and cut off his 
communication with Georgia 
and the east. To prevent this, 
Bragg withdrew his army 
from the lines about Tulla- 
homa and fell back to Chat- 
tanooga which he occupied 
the first week in July, and 
threw up intrenchmeuts. 

Federal Success in East 
Tennessee. — East Tennessee 
was still held by General 
Buckner who was at Knoxville with some 4,000 men. 
Against these General Burnside came down from Kentucky 
with 15,000. The Confederate force fell back. Cumber- 
land Gap with a Confederate garrison of 2,000 was sur- 
rounded and compelled to surrender to Burnside's superior 
strength, and East Tennessee was entirely occupied by the 
Federal troops. Rosecrans now moved against the left of 
Bragg's position, hoping to get behind him and capture or 
destroy his army. He crossed his force over the Tennessee 
River west of Chattanooga, repaired the railroads behind him 
as he advanced, and hoped to push on south to Georgia with- 
out serious hindrance. 
30 




S. ROSECRANS, U. S. A. 




466 History of the United States. 

Situation of Chattanooga. — Chattanooga which is impor- 
tant as a railway centre, is on the south bank of the Ten- 
nessee River at the mouth of Chattanooga 
Valley, between the steep and rocky heights 
of Lookout Mountain on the west and the 
lower Missionary Ridge on the east. Through 
this valley runs a creek of the same name. 
East of Missionary Ridge, flows Chicka- 
mauga Creek through Chickamauga Valley. 
The. whole region consists of range after 
s.B.EucKNEK, KT. raugc of mouutalus separated by valleys. 

Battle of Chickamauga. — Finding that Rosecrans was 
moving down the valley west of Lookout Mountain, for 
the purpose of turning his left flank, General Bragg moved 
from Chattanooga and took position in Chickamauga Valley, 
so as to protect the railroad into Georgia. General Rose- 
crans occupied Chattanooga and then moved forward and 
confronted the Confederate army. To strengthen Bragg's 
force, so much weaker than that of Rosecrans, Longstreet 
had been sent from Virginia with 5,000 men, but all of these 
had not reached the field when the battle began on Septem- 
ber 19th. In the first day's fight, Bragg endeavored to turn 
his enemy's left and get between him and Chattanooga. 
Rosecrans however was able to bring such large numbers to 
his left that the Confederates could not get round it. Both 
armies slept on the field. During the night of the 19th, Gen- 
eral Longstreet came up with the rest of his men. The 
Confederate army was reorganized into two corps, the one 
holding the right commanded by Lieutenant-General Polk, 
that on the left by Lieutenant-General Longstreet. McCook 
held the Federal right opposite Longstreet; Crittenden held 
the centre; and the left opposite Polk was commanded by 
General Thomas. 

Second Day's Fight. — Bragg ordered an attack to be made 
along his whole line very early on the morning of the 
20th. Morning found everything enveloped in a dense fog. 
The reorganizing of the army in the midst of a fierce con- 
test necessarily caused confusion, and the battle did not 
begin until ten o'clock. The fighting was gallant on both 
sides. Longstreet's force drove back the Federal right, 
where Rosecrans was in person, until both the right and 



Ldncoln's Administration, 1863. 



467 



centre broke and fled in confusion to Chattanooga. General 
Thomas had been busy all night in strengthening his posi- 
tion by cutting down trees and throwing up earthworks. 
There was considerable delay in getting Polk's command 
into action, and a want of co-operation on the part of some 
of his subordinates; and when the attack was made it was 
so stoutly resisted by Thomas that the Confederates failed to 




J. C, BRECKINEIDGE, KENTUCKY. 



drive him as they had done the right and centre. In the 
night, however, finding that the rest of the army had re- 
treated, Thomas also fell back, leaving his dead and wounded 
on the field. 

Forces and Losses.— Well might Chickamauga Creek be 
called the " River of Death." More than 20,000 dead and 
wounded had fallen in the two days' fighting. Bragg's force 



468 History of the United States. 

engaged was about 50,000, Rosecrans's about 55,000. The 
loss on each side including prisoners was nearly equal, 
16,000. The material results of the victory to the Confede- 
rates were 8,000 prisoners, many of them wounded men, 51 
pieces of artillery, 15,000 small arms, together with quanti- 
ties of ammunition, wagons and hospital stores. 

General Bragg After the Battle. — Had Thomas been again 
attacked on the morning of the 21st, Rosecrans's whole army 
might have been routed and demoralized, if not destroyed. 
But General Bragg allowed the Federal army to withdraw 
unmolested into the fortifications around Chattanooga and 
make them even stronger than they were. His army had 
been disappointed, because the different corps of Rosecrans 
had not been attacked in detail before their concentration 
on September 18th. It was known that the plan of battle 
on the 19th and 20th had been faulty; and now that Bragg 
did not follow up his victory, his men lost confidence in him, 
and, as after Murfreesboro, begged that they might have 
another commander. Instead of taking the blame of any 
failure on himself, Bragg threw the burden of it upon his su- 
bordinate officers, two of whom, Generals Polk and D. H. Hill, 
he at once relieved of their commands. Hill had not obeyed 
his orders, but Polk was exonerated and transferred to an- 
other important command. Unfortunately for the South, 
General Bragg was a favorite in Richmond and was retained 
in his position in spite of tlie dissatisfaction of his army. 

Brag-g's New Position. — Though he did not pursue and 
attack Rosecrans, Bragg occupied the heights in front of 
Chattanooga, established his line from the northern crest of 
Lookout Mountain across the valley and upon Missionar}^ 
Ridge, and held the roads south of the river; he sent his 
calvary into Tennessee round Rosecrans's rear, to capture his 
wagon trains and cut the railroads, and hoped before long 
to starve him out. The Federal situation was critical in the 
extreme. The troops were on half rations and suffering for 
clothing and supplies of all sorts; the horses were dying of 
starvation and the beef-cattle were no better off. In this 
emergency, the authorities in Washington called to its res- 
cue the generals and men who had been so successful in 
Mississippi. General Grant was summoned to take com- 
mand at Chattanooga; Sherman with his corps from Vicks- 



Lincoln's Administration, 186$. 



469 



burg, and Hooker from Virginia, were hastened as fast as 
possible to the same point. 

General Grant at Chattanooga. — General Grant had been 
severely injured in New Orleans by a fall from his horse; but 

he at once repaired to Chatta- _^- ., 

nooga, reaching there on Octo- v^ 

ber 23d. Rosecrans was re- 
moved and Thomas appointed 
to command the Army of the 
Tennessee in his place. The 
most important thing was to re- 
lieve the wants of the starving 
soldiers and to provide them 
with ammunition. Several 
thousand men from Chatta- 
nooga were floated on pontoons 
down the river, past the Con- 
federate pickets, to Brown's 
Ferry, where they captured the 
guard. Another force moved 
down the north bank of the 
river, and a bridge was speed- 
ily laid across the Ferry. 
Hooker's men were crossed to 
the south side of the river and 
moved into Lookout Valley. The Federal troops now held 
the river from Bridgeport to Brown's Ferry. At the Ferry, 
men and provisions were taken to the north shore and car- 
ried safely to Chattanooga, where they were again crossed to 
the town. In this way the needs of the garrison were soon 
provided for. 

Federal Forces. — When Bragg discovered that arrange- 
ments had been made by which Chattanooga would soon be 
relieved, he tried to break them up. On the night of Octo- 
ber 28th, a strong attack was made upon the force holding 
the mouth of Lookout Valley. But Hooker was much 
stronger than the attacking party, and after three hours' 
fighting it proved impossible to dislodge him. Sherman 
was moving eastward with his corps, repairing the railroad 
as he came, so that it might furnish him with supplies. The 
work proved so slow that it was abandoned, and he pushed 




W. B. BATE, TENN. 



470 



History of the United States. 




O. O. HOWARD, U. 



on through north Alabama, and then towards Nashville, to 
protect the road which had to be repaired from there to the 
Tennessee River. 

Bragg's Army Weakened. — While these efforts were being 
made by the Federal generals to strengthen the army hold- 
ing Chattanooga, that of Bragg 
opposite the city was suddenly 
and seriously weakened. In 
the latter part of October, Presi- 
dent Davis made a visit to 
Bragg's army. Believing that 
Rosecrans was safely shut up 
in Chattannooga and ignorant 
of the efforts making for his 
relief, Mr. Davis ordered Gene- 
ral Longstreet, with 15,000 men 
and Wheeler's cavalry, to move 
into East Tennessee and drive 
Burnside out of Knoxville. 
When Grant learned how 
Bragg's force had been depleted, he determined to strike it 
as soon as possible. Sherman and his men reached Chat- 
tanooga on November 15th. Grant's army now numbered 
80,000; Bragg's little over half that number. Great anxiety 
was felt in Washington as to Burnside's ability to hold East 
Tennessee, and Grant felt that he must move against Bragg 
as soon as possible, so that he might be able to reinforce 
Burnside. 

Movement to Flank Bragg's Position. — Bragg, as I have 
told you, held the north end of Lookout Mountain, the val- 
ley east of it, and Missionary Ridge, where he was strongly 
fortified. Grant determined to take most of his men to the 
north side of the Tennessee River, march them eastward, 
and then cross them back to the south side, in such a way 
that they could strike the Confederates on their right flank. 
Sherman and Howard made this movement in safety, but 
rains swelled the river so much that Hooker could not cross, 
and he had to advance on the south side. Thomas held the 
centre at Chattanooga. 

Battle of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. — 
Grant's orders were that Hooker should cross the north end 



Lincohi's Admhtistration, 1863. 471 

of Lookout Mountain, sweep across Chatanooga Valley, and 
take the south end of Missionary Ridge. Sherman was to 
seize the north end of the Ridge, and when both these points 
had been gained, Thomas was to attack the centre. On the 
23d, Thomas seized Wood's Fort, an advanced Confeder- 
ate position in his front. On the 24th, Sherman, having 
crossed the river safely, seized the north end of Missionary 
Ridge where he fortified himself. Hooker, the same day, in 
a gallant manner scaled the steep ascent of Lookout Moun- 
tain and drove the Confederates from its northern end. 
The Confederates withdrew across Chattanooga Creek, de- 
stroying the bridges, and took position on Missionary Ridge. 
The position was a strong one and might have been held by 
a determined resistance. But whether the Confederate army 
had lost faith in its commanders or whether it was dis- 
couraged by the superior numbers it saw moving to hem it 
in, there is no question that it failed on this occasion to ex- 
hibit its usual courage and constancy. The artillery firing 
lacked spirit and concentration, and so could not check the 
Federal advance, and when Thomas pressed his men boldly 
forward up the steep acclivity and over the earthworks, the 
Southern soldiers gave way before them, and were soon in 
a panic-stricken retreat. The artillery, abandoned by its 
gunners, was seized by the assaulting columns and turned 
upon their fleeing antagonists. No efforts were able to 
rally the Southern army. The whole position was aban- 
doned, and the defeated army withdrawn as fast as possible 
to Ringgold, and thence to Dalton. 
Results of the Battle. — In this defeat, the losses were about 

6,000 on both sides, but by far the larger ^^ —. — ^ 

part of the Southern loss was of uninjured /"''•^ j 

men, showing how easy their capture had f#»"t(v 1 ^ 

been; 40 pieces of cannon and thousands y» * \ 

of small arms were also taken by the Fed- >2^i. 

eral army. General Grant at once ordered ^Xm^^^ 

20,000 men to march into East Tennessee [ .^p^ 

to relieve Burnside, while he maintained a ^ J .^^„„r r, = . 

vigorous pursuit of Bragg for some days. 

Longstreet was obliged to abandon the siege of Knoxville 

without having accomplished anything, and the whole of 

Tennessee was held by Federal armies Longstreet with- 



472 History of tlie United States. 

drew to the northern part of the State, but he had a hard 
time in the cold hostile region. Averill from Meade's army 
cut the railroads in western A-^irginia, and Longstreet was 
for a time without communications. For their signal suc- 
cess in Mississippi and Tennessee, the Federal Congress 
passed a vote of thanks to Grant and his men and had a 
medal struck in his honor. President Davis was at last 
obliged to relieve Bragg from command of the Army of Ten- 
nessee, and he assigned General Joseph E. Johnston to take 
his place. As in Virginia, active operations now ceased, 
and both armies went into winter quarters for the rest they 
sorel}^ needed. 

Condition of the Armies, 1863. — The year drawing to its 
close had been very successful for the Northern armies and 
equally disastrous to the South. West of the Mississippi 
River, much of Arkansas and Louisiana was held by Federal 
troops. They had possession of the great river and had 
cleft the Confederacy in two. Northern Mississippi and 
Tennessee were occupied by them, while north Alabama and 
Georgia were subjected to raids and devastation. Virginia, 
north of the Rappahannock, was desolate and downtrodden. 
The limits of the Confederacy were everywhere contracted, 
and its resources sorely crippled and overtaxed. Thousands 
of soldiers had deserted from the Southern armies, especially 
from those of Vicksburg and Missionary Ridge, discouraged 
by their own ill success and the desperate condition of their 
families. Owing to these desertions, to the impossibility of 
enforcing the conscription laws, and to the great losses in 
the many defeats of the year, there were at its close little 
more than 400,000 men on the Confederate rolls, and of these 
fully one-third were absent from the ranks. The Federal 
armies, at the same period, numbered largely over 1,000,000. 
In spite of this disparity of numbers and of all their suffer- 
ings and reverses, the spirit of the people and of the Con- 
federate Government continued wonderfully buoyant, de- 
termined and hopeful of ultimate success^ The North was 
naturally exultant and defiant, though many hearts were 
saddened by the loss of their loved ones, and many right- 
minded people lamented the gradual increase of despotism 
and the decay of constitutional liberty. 



Lincoln's Administration, 1864-. 473 

AUTHORITIES.— Draper's History of the Civil War; Ridpath's History of the United 
States; Official Reports and Correspondence in Government War Records; General 
Grant's Personal Memoirs; Sherman's Memoir; J. E. Johnston's Narrative; Davis's 
Rise and Fall of tlie Confederate Government ; Pollard's Lost Cause ; Taylor's Destruc- 
tion and Reconstruction; Duke's Morgan and his Men; Battles and Leaders of the 
Civil War; Newspapers of the period ; Appleton's Annual Cyclopedia. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. Tell of the cavalry raids in Tennessee. 2. Of Morgan's 
raids in Kentticky and across the Ohio. 8. Of his capture and escape. 
4. Where were Bragg and Rosecrans? 5. What was done in East Tennessee? 
6. What is the situation of Chattanooga? 7. Describe the battle of Chicka- 
mauga. 8. The second day's fight. 9. What were the forces and losses on 
both sides? 10. Tell of General Bragg after the battle. 11. What new posi- 
tion did he take? 12. Who was now summoned to command the Fedei^,] 
forces? 13. Tell of Grant's movements. 14. How were the Federal forces 
disposed? 15. What became of apart of Bragg's army at this very time? 
16. What movement did Grant make? 17. Tell of the battle of Lookout 
Mountain and Missionary Ridge. 18. What were the results of the battle? 
19. Describe the condition of the armies and of the country at the end of 1863. 



CHAPTER LXXVIII. 

LINCOLN'S ADMINISTRATION , CONTINUED.— 186Ip. 

Victory at Olustee, 1864. — The opening months of this 
year witnessed a series of Confederate successes which sur- 
prised their foes, and proved that the defeats of the pre- 
vious year had not lessened the spirit of the 
diminishing Southern armies. When the 
expedition against Charleston Harbor failed, 
General Gilmore was directed to make an 
effort to defeat the small Confederate force 
holding Florida and to possess himself of B$J'%, 
the whole peninsula. For this purpose, 
a force commanded by General Seymour, 
numbering some 7.000 men including two 

y ■ 1 r-i HT > J. p. ANDERSON, FLA. 

negro regiments, was sent up the St. Mary s 
River early in February. General Finnegan, defending the 
district, had only some 2,500 men, and fell back slowly be- 
fore the Federal advance, which was as usual accompanied 
by great destruction of property. Colquitt's brigade joined 
Finnegan, and he moved with 5,000 men of the joint com- 
mand against the enemy. A battle was fought on February 
20th, at Olustee near Ocean Pond, which resulted in a com- 




474 



History of the United States. 




A. H. (Uil.QUITT, GA. 



plete victory for the Confederates. Five cannon, a number 
of small arms, and 1,800 men were lost by the Federals. 
The Confederate loss was 250. The ultimate result of this 
battle was the expulsion of the Federal troops, and the pres- 
ervation of the State to the Confederacy. 

Sherman's Return to Vicksburg. — After relieving Knox- 
ville and East Tennessee from Confederate soldiers, Sher- 
-. man again took his army westward to 
Vicksburg, intending from that base to 
move into Alabama. His especial point 
. of attack was Meridian, where the prin- 
cipal railroads running through the Gulf 
States crossed each other. Sherman had 
at his disposal about 30,000 infantry and 
1 0,000 cavalry. General Polk, command- 
y ing the Southern forces, had not more 
than 20,000 men scattered throughout 
Mississippi and Alabama, with some 4,000 
cavalry. It was impossible to prevent Sherman's advance, 
and he moved on to Meridian, spreading desolation as he 
went. Forrest, with about 3,000 cavalry, was employed in 
constant skirmishing with the enemy's larger force. 

Sherman at Meridian. — Finding it impossible to hold 
Meridian, General Polk moved south of that point to pro- 
tect Mobile. Sherman marched in, and, on February 16th, 
set a force of 10,000 to work with axes, crow- 
bars and other implements, to destroy the rail- 
roads centering in the town. For five days 
they labored with these, and then, setting 
fire to whatever would burn, nearly wiped 
out of existence Meridian with its depots 
and store-houses, its hospitals, hotels, and 
private houses. The railroads and bridges 
were absolutely destroyed for many miles, 
and the corn and cotton which could not be carried off" were 
also burned In the mean time, the Federal cavalry under 
General Sooy Smith was ordered to move 'eastward from 
Meridian and destroy the railroad as they went. 

Forrest's Victories. — Riding hard after these devastators, 
Forrest, who has been termed the Stonewall Jackson of the 




S. D. LEE, S. C. 



Lincoln's Administration, 186^. 



475 



West, with 2,500 cavalr}^, struck them first in the prairie 
country near West Point, and again at Okalona. Such in- 
jury was inflicted upon them in these fights, that they re- 
treated in haste towards Memphis, leaving 6 pieces of artillery, 
3 flags, 162 prisoners, and all their dead and wounded in 
Forrest's hands, while the Confederate loss was only 144. 
By this defeat of his cavalry, Sherman was forced to with- 
draw to Vicksburg from the country he had desolated. 

Capture of Fort Pillow. — Later on, Forrest moved back 
into western Tennessee, punished the Federal soldiers there 
in several encounters, and captured and destroyed Fort Pil- 
low, a few miles above Memphis. The fort was garrisoned 
by 700 men, about 500 of whom were negroes, and it was 
defended on the river front by gunboats. Having com- 
pletely invested it, General Forrest, on April 12th, sent in a 
flag of truce demanding its surrender. This was refused, 
and an assault was at once made upon the fort. The works 
were carried, and the garrison after a short resistance fled to- 
wards their gunboats 
on the river. As they 
reached the flat be- 
low the bluff", a mur- 
derous cross fire was 
poured into their 
ranks on the right 
and on the left, from 
Confederate compa- 
nies stationed there. The assault- 
ing force also followed them. 
Taken thus in the rear and on 
both flanks, some 500 of them 
were slain or drowned in their 
efforts to reach the gunboats. The negroes who escaped told 
frightful tales of the barbarity of their assailants, and the 
North rang with indignation at what was called the " mas- 
sacre at Fort Pillow." So far from the accounts of the 
murder of wounded prisoners being true, General Forrest 
made an eflTort to deliver them at once to the Federal trans- 
ports. This was effected on the next day. After a full in- 
vestigation of the facts, the Confederate Congress passed a 
vote of thanks to Forrest and his command, for their bril- 




CAPTUEE OF FORT PILLOW. 



476 



History of the United States. 




N. p. BANKS, V. S. A. 



liant and successful campaign. But the slander had power 
to stimulate the hatred of many enemies of the South, both 
in the North and in Europe. Many other daring exploits 
were performed by Forrest's men, in which the Federal cav- 
alry suffered severely. 

Battle of Mansfield, La. — After Sherman's Meridian cam- 
paign, he sent 10,000 of his men from Vicksburg across the 
Mississippi to assist General Banks, who 
intended to move up the Red River, cap- 
ture Shreveport, and then occupy Texas. 
For this expedition. Banks had some 40,000 
men with gunboats and transports. Gene- 
ral Kirby Smith commanded the Confede- 
rate Department west of the Mississippi, 
and General Dick Taylor, son of old Gene- 
ral Zackary Taylor, commanded the forces 
in Louisiana. Not being able to prevent 
Banks's advance, Taylor fell slowly back 
before him. On April 8th, he had been 
reinforced so that he had 15,000 men. These he stationed 
in an advantageous position across Banks's road near Mans- 
field, and waited the attack of his enemy. Banks did not 
favor attacking, so Taylor took the matter 
into his own hands, threw his army upon 
the Federals, and by nightfall drove them 
from the field with great loss, capturing 
cannon, wagons, small arms, and prisoners 
by thousands. The pursuit was kept up as 
far as Pleasant Hill, where the Federals 
made a stand, and inflicted some punish- 
ment on their foes, though their loss was 
very much greater than that of the Con- 
federates, especially in prisoners. kichaed taylob, la. 
Banks's Retreat to New Orleans. — Banks fell back to New 
Orleans, revenging himself for his disasters by laying waste 
the country, burning and robbing everywhere as he went. 
His troops were said to have marched " with a torch in their 
right hand, plunder in their left, and their arms on their 
backs." When he reached New Orleans he had lost 8,000 
killed and wounded, 6,000 prisoners, 35 pieces of artillery, 
1,200 wagons, and 20,000 stand of small arms. 




Lincoln's Administration, 1864- 477 

Capture of Plymouth, N. C. — On the North Carolina coast, 
General Hoke captured Plymouth near the mouth of the 
Roanoke River, taking 1,600 prisoners and 25 cannon. 
This would, it was hoped, increase the facilities for running 
the blockade, Init ultimately proved to be of little value. 

Kilpatrick's Raid. — In Virginia, before the opening of the 
spring campaign, Kilpatrick with 4,000 cavalry set out on a 
raid around Lee's lines to destroy the railroads between him 
and Richmond. They were then to dash into Richmond, 
release the Union prisoners there, and do all the damage 
possible. Stout resistance from citizen soldiers, aided by 
high water, bad roads, and ignorance of the country, caused 
the plan to fail. Part of the Federal command became 
separated from the rest. It was attacked at night by a 
small force of "home guards," and the 
commander. Colonel Ulric Dahlgren, was 
killed. When Dahlgren's pockets were ex- 
amined they were found to contain an ad- 
dress to the officers and men of his com- 
mand, in which they were exhorted to free 
the prisoners in Richmond; to burn the 
city; to slay Jefferson Davis and his Cabi- 
net; and to perpetrate other horrible deeds. " ' "' "' 

This paper was signed with Colonel Dahlgren's name, but 
the United States Government and General Meade at once 
declared that no such orders had been given him. 

Grant Made Commander-in-Chief. — Early in March, Gene- 
ral Grant was summoned to AVashington where he was 
made Lieutenant-General and head of all the forces of the 
United States, and thus he became second only to the Presi- 
dent himself. At the same time Sherman was placed over 
the forces between the Alleghany Mountains and the Mis- 
sissippi, while McPherson was given Sherman's position as 
head of the Army of Tennessee. 

Grant's Plan. — There were only two Southern armies of 
any strength left in the field, Lee's force upon the Rapidan, 
and Johnston's at Dalton, Georgia. To strike these two armies 
at once became Grant's plan. He, therefore, ordered Sher- 
man to move against Johnston, break his army up, and 
then to march on into the Southern States destroying as he 
went all property that could in any wa}' assist in carrying 




478 



History of the United States. 



on the war. Banks was ordered to move against Mobile, so 
as to prevent reinforcements from being sent to Johnston, 
and to break up the railroads as soon as he should establish 
himself in Alabama. 

Force Against Riclimond. — Grant took his own place with 
Meade's army as being the most iraportant position in the 
campaign. All the resources of the Federal Government 
were at his disposal. There was no murmuring nor com- 




U. S. GRANT, U. S. A. 

plaining against his measures: 125,000 men and 325 can- 
non were assembled on the north bank of the Rapidan. To 
meet this immense host Lee had only 62,000 men and 224 
cannon. A considerable force under Sigel was to move up 
the valley of Virginia, and cut off the supplies for Lee's 
army from that quarter. General Butler, who had 30,000 
men at Fortress Monroe, was directed to move towards 
Richmond so as to co-operate with Meade, and preparations 
were made for a speedy advance. 



Lincoln's Administration, 1864-. 479 

Lee's Movements. — On the 4th of March, Meade's army 
moved across the Rapidan by the fords below Lee's position, 
expecting to turn it on the right. Lee was so well informed 
about Grant's movements that he told his officers, two days 
beforehand, that the Federal army would cross at Ely's and 
Germanna Fords. Expecting this, he moved his own men 
forward to intercept his antagonist, and ordered Ewell and 
Hill, who led the advance, to avoid a general engagement 
until the rest of the troops could come up. Longstreet with 
two divisions was at Gordonsville, more than twenty miles 
away. 

Battles of the Wilderness. — The Wilderness country, into 
which both armies now plunged, was a large extent of rough 
country covered with a thick and tan- 
gled growth, and crossed by a few nar- 
row and very bad roads. The Federal 
generals knew little of the country, and 
were unaware of the nearness of Lee's 
men, although Ewell's advance bivou- 
acked only three miles from Warren on 
the night of the 4th. These troops came 
into collision, on the morning of the 5th, 
and before long the woods and thickets 
were full of fighting. At first, Warren, 
on the Federal right, gained ground 

171 n 1 i j.T_ 1 • 1 1 E. p. ALEXANDER, GA. 

upon Lwell, but was then driven back 
with the loss of 3,000 prisoners; and Hill, with two divi- 
sions, successfully repulsed a series of vigorous assaults made 
upon him by Hancock. When night fell, both sides slept 
on their arms, expecting deadly work on the morrow. 

"Lee to the Rear!" — It was a terrible place for a battle. 
The dense growth and interlacing branches hindered any 
one from seeing more than a few yards away. There was 
no possibility of maneuvering. Neither cavalry nor artil- 
lery could be used to much purpose. The infantry had to 
contend brigade against brigade, regiment against regiment, 
company against company, in an almost hand-to-hand strug- 
gle. Grant ordered an attack along his whole front, at five 
o'clock on the morning of the 6th. Lee also intended to 
attack, but was obliged to wait on his right until Longstreet 
and Hill's third division came up. Before they reached the 




480 History of the United States. 

field, Hancock, with nearly 40,000 men, fell upon that end 
of Lee's line, carried its front, and drove the right in con- 
fusion. In the emergency, Longstreet arrived on the field, 
put his men at once into action, attacked Hancock on the 
front and flank, and drove him rapidly back to his line of 
breastworks. When his men were retreating, General Lee 
rode up to some of Longstreet's force who came up at a 
double quick, and finding that they were from Texas, ex- 
claimed " Hurrah for Texas! Hurrah for Texas ! " and put 
himself at their head with the order to "Charge!" The 
soldiers, anxious for the safety of their beloved commander, 
cried out "Lee to the rear!" and a gray-headed sergeant 
seized his bridle, saying, " General Lee, if you do not go 
backf we will not go forward." To this appeal the general 
yielded, the gallant Texans swept on and changed the face 
of the battle. 

End of the Battle. — Unfortunately, General Longstreet 
was accidentally shot, at this critical time, by a cross fire of 
some of his own men, and was unable to conduct the move- 
ment he had so well planned. His fall occasioned some con- 
fusion. It required time to bring a new commander to his 
troops; and a second attack later in the afternoon upon Han- 
cock's position was successfully resisted. Gordon, on Lee's 
left, had done much damage to Sedgwick's line, and the cav- 
alry had severe but indecisive combats during the day. 
Whatever prestige and success had been gained was on the 
Southern side, for Hancock's attack on the right and Burn- 
side's in the centre had both failed, while Warren on the 
left had been driven back with heavy loss in killed and cap- 
tured. When night fell the shadow of death hung over 
the Wilderness. Grant had lost 17,66(3 men in two days, 
Lee, half that number. Everywhere amid the gnarled 
trunks and thick bushes, lay the dead and wounded, and to 
add to the horrors, the woods caught fire from the incessant 
shot and shell, and many wounded men perished in the 
flames. 

The Race, for Spotsylvania. — All day of the 7th, the two 
armies lay still and watched each other. Lee again divined 
that Grant intended slipping by his right, and he ordered 
Anderson's division to move to Spotsylvania Court House, at 
three o'clock in the morning, by a new road which had been 



Lincoln's Administration, 186^. 



481 



cut for the purpose. Anderson began his march at eleven 
in the night, and so won the " race for Spotsylvania/' which 
he reached in time to assist Stuart's cavalry in checking 
Warren's advance. This gave Lee possession of the roads 
and the choice of position. Both armies came up and 
immediately began fortifying, and two strong lines of earth- 
works were soon opposed to each other. 

The Bloody Angle. — For twelve days, from the 8th to the 
20th of May, Grant made heavy assaults on the Confede- 
rate works. On the early morning of the 12th of May, he 
succeeded in carrying a salient or projecting point in Lee's 
fortifications, and in capturing two generals with more than 
3,000 men and 20 guns. Through the opening thus gained, 
the Federal troops poured in by thousands. The Confede- 
rates quickly rallied to the threatened 
point. Though they could not drive 
their assailants from the salient, they 
penned them up with such fierce fight- 
ing that the space was piled with dead 
bodies, and was known as the " Bloody 
Angle." From dawn until far into the 
night, the deadly struggle continued 
all along the front. The Federals could 
not penetrate the second line, though 
they still held the angle. Hundreds of 
cannon were fired with great effect, and 
the musket balls cut down stout oak trees. In one of the 
hottest moments of the day. General Lee again prepared to 
lead a column advancing into action, and had been again 
kept back by the eager cries of his men. 

Grant's Continued Attacks. — On the 18th and 19th, Grant 
attacked again, but could not drive the Southern array one 
inch. In these twelve days his loss had been 18,399 men, 
making nearly. 40,000 since he began the campaign — nearly 
two-thirds of Lee's whole force. Lee's loss was much less; 
General Grant knew that, if he kept on losing and slaying 
in the same proportion, he must ultimately destroy every 
man in the Southern army, while his own ranks would still 
be full. He had called for reinforcements. About 35,000 
were sent him, and, on the night of June 20th, he again 
withdrew his force and made another flank movement to 
31 




ROUES, ALA. 



482 History of the United States. 

the North Anna River. But his opponents were again too 
quick for him, and he found his road obstructed by Lee's 
army strongly posted on the south bank of the stream. 

Stuart Killed at Yellow Tavern. — In the mean time, a se- 
vere loss had befallen the Southern cause. Grant had started 
Sheridan with 10,000 horsemen, on May 9th, to pass round 
Lee's rear and destroy his communications. Stuart, with 
less than 4,000 men, followed Sheridan, and came up with 
him at Yellow Tavern, six miles from Richmond. A fierce 
but most unequal combat ensued, in which the gallant Stu- 
art received a wound which caused his death the next day. 
His loss was a greater injury to the Confederates than any 
they had experienced since the death of Stonewall Jackson, 
for he was the best cavalry officer America had ever pro- 
duced. The fight at Yellow Tavern gave time for an in- 
fantry force to be thrown into the defences at Richmond. 
Sheridan dared not attack them, and had to make such a 
long circuit that he did not return to Grant for two weeks. 

Move Towards RichmoDd.— The Southern position at 
North Anna was even stronger than it had been at Spotsyl- 
vania, and General Grant did not attack it. Lee had re- 
ceived about 7,500 reinforcements from North Carolina and 
Florida, and would have struck at Grant, but he was pros- 
trated by illness. There was severe cavalry fighting, and 
then Grant again sidled to the left, hoping to get between 
Lee's army and Richmond. But the Southern army moved 
on shorter lines, and when, on May 31st, Grant reached Mc- 
Clellan's former fighting ground, he found the Confederates 
again confronting him behind strong fortifications. 

Confederate Victories Over Sigel and Butler. — Grant's 
plan had been for Sigel to move up the Valley and cut Lee's 
communications, and then cross the mountains and come up 
on his rear; while Butler, from Fortress Monroe, should co- 
operate south of Richmond, and secure the destruction of 
the defending army and the capture of the city. Sigel, with 
6,500 men, had been defeated at New Market, on the 15th, 
by Breckinridge with a somewhat smaller force. In the en- 
gagement, the battalion of boys from the Virginia Military 
Institute fought with the courage and skill of veterans, 
losing about 50 of their number killed and wounded. But- 
ler was, on the very next day. May 16th, attacked by Beau- 



Lincoln's Administratio7i, 186^.. 483 

regard, who had been brought from South Carolina. Had 
Butler moved more promptly, he could have seized Peters- 
burg and changed the nature of the struggle. But as it was, 
Beauregard, with not half the number of men, shut him up 
so closely in the neck of land between the James and Appo- 
mattox Rivers, that he was unable to make any use of his 
30,000 men. He was thus " bottled up," when Grant reached 
Cohl Harbor, but 12,500 of his men were moved by trans- 
ports across the James River and joined the Army of the 
Potomac. 

Unsuccessful Assault on Lee. — On June 1st, the Federal 
forces in frontof Richmond attacked and drove in the Confede- 
rate skirmish line, and, on the early morning of the 3d, they 
made a tremendous assault upon the breastworks all along 
their front. There were 113,000 of them, and they advanced 
in double lines six miles long. But they could accomplish 
nothing. Lee's 60,000 men lay behind their intrenchments 
and slew their assailants by thousands, receiving little injury 
themselves. A second assault was ordered but the soldiers 
refused to move forward. The great number of their com- 
rades, 12,737, that had fallen in less than an hour, appalled 
the stoutest hearts among them. The officers were forced 
to admit that there was no hope of success, and General 
Grant by midday ordered a suspension of offensive opera- 
tions. 

Losses. — In this campaign which had lasted exactly one 
month. General Grant had 192,160 men from first to last. 
He had lost 60,000, and was no nearer Richmond, for all his 
marching and fighting, than McClellan had been two years 
before. But he knew that he could replace every soldier he 
lost, while the Southern men and boys were being rapidly 
killed off, and in many months of such destruction the army 
must be consumed. Lee, with all the reinforcements that 
could be sent him, had under him only 78,400 men from 
the Wilderness to Cold Harbor. There is nowhere any exact 
statement how many of these had been killed and wounded; 
it is estimated at about 20,000. 

Hunter's March up the Valley. — General David Hunter, 
one of the few Virginians who had taken up arms against 
the State, had been put in Sigel's place after the defeat at 
New Market. He advanced up the Valley of Virginia with 



484 



History of the United States. 




EVANS, S. C. 



10,000 men, scattering the small forces which tried to check 
him, burning private houses, and plundering and destroying 
as he went. Near Staunton he defeated a little arm}'^ of 3,000. 
He was then joined by Crook and Averill coming from the 
Kanawha Valley, and proceeded to Lexington and thence to 
Lynchburg. Everywhere his track was marked by fire and 
destruction. Much of his force were 100 days' men, who 
were better at plundering and burning than at fighting. 
Sheridan was sent from Grant's army with 
10,000 cavalry, to cut the railroad from 
Richmond to Charlottesville, and to join 
Hunter at Lynchburg. Hampton, with 
4,000 men, met Sheridan at Trevilian's 
and, after a sharp fight there, the Federals 
changed their course and moved back to 
join Grant. Hunter burnt the barracks and 
professors' houses at the Military Institute 
at Lexington, and Governor Letcher's -residence, before he 
crossed the mountains to Lynchburg. Here he was met by 
Breckinridge and Early, detached from Lee's army, with 
about 10,000 men. Finding this force in his front, his com- 
munications threatened, and his supply of ammunition small. 
Hunter moved rapidly off westward across the mountains to 
the Kanawha Valley, which he reached after much hard- 
ship and suffering to his men. 

AUTHORITIES.— Draper's History of the Civil War; Ridpath's History of the United 
States; Official Reports and Correspondence in Government War Records; General 
Grant's Personal Memoirs, Sherman's Memoir; J.E.Johnston's Narrative; Davis's 
Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government; Pollard's Lost Cause; Taylor's De- 
struction and Reconstruction; Long's and Lee's Memoirs of Robert E. Lee; Taylor's 
Four Years with Lee; Battles and Leaders of the Civil War; Newspapers of the 
Period; Appleton's Annual Cyclopedia; Hood's Advance and Retreat. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. Tell of the attack on Florida. 2. Of Sherman's return 
to Vi(!ksburg. 3. Of Sherman at Meridian. 4. What victories did Forrest 
win ? 5. Relate his capture of Fort Pillow. 6. The battle of Mansfield, La. 
7. Tell of Banks's retreat to New Orleans. 8. What capture did General 
Hoke make in North Carolina? 9. Describe the raid of Kilpatrick. 10. Who 
was now made commander-in-chief of the Federal forces ? 11. What plan did 
he form ? 12. Tell of the force against Richmond. 13. Of Lee's movements. 
14. Of the battles of the Wilderness. 15. Relate the anecdote of "Lee to 
the rear! " 16. What was the end of the battle? 17. Who won " the race for 
Spotsylvania " ? 18. Which was the most terrible of the battles of the Wilder- 
ness ? 19. Tell of Grant's continued attacks. 20. What great leader was killed 
at Yellow Tavern ? 21. How did the two armies move to Richmond ? 22. Teli 
of the Confederate victories over Sigel and Butler. 23. Of the assault on Lee. 
24. Of the losses on both sides. 25. What were Hunter's movements in the 
Valley ? 26. Have you found all the places that you can on the map ? 



CHAPTER LXXIX. 

LINCOLN'S ADMINIHTRATION, CONTINUED.— 1861,.. 

Sherman's and Johnston's Armies. — By orders from Gen- 
eral Grant, Sherman began his advance on Johnston at Dal- 
ton on May 4th, the same day which opened the Wilderness 
campaign. In preparation for this move, he had collected 
large stores and supplies at Chattanooga. His force was 
nearly 100,000 strong, well furnished and equipped for the 




arduous work before it. His immediate objects were to reach 
Atlanta, Georgia, and to destroy Johnston's army on the way. 
This army consisted of 40,000 badly equipped men, who 
were reinforced by Polk's force from Mississippi, about 19,000 
more. Such was the disproportion in numbers and equip- 
ment that it was not possible for Johnston to maintain his 

[485] 



486 History of the United States. 

advanced position, much less to go forward, as he was urged 
to do by the authorities in Richmond. 

Movement of the Two Armies. — The country through 
which the armies had to move was mountainous, difficult, 
and cut up by frequent streams. It afforded excellent posi- 
tions for fortification and defence. Knowing this, Sherman 
determined to try the tactics of continually flanking the 
Southern army, instead of attacking its intrenched lines, 
and so forcing it to fall back from place to place. In this 
manner, threatening him in front by a large force while 
other corps moved to get in his rear, the Federal commander 
forced Johnston to fall back from his strong works at Dal- 
ton to Resaca, where Polk's reinforcements joined him. 
Some severe fighting occurred here, but the place was strong, 
and Sherman again moved on round the left flank, and the 
Southern army again fell back to check him off". Day after 
day and week after week, this process of pressing and flanking 
the Confederates went on, until each successive position was 
turned, and they were compelled to fall back, first behind 
the Oostanaula River and then behind the Etowah. This 
was not done without constant skirmishing and several severe 
encounters. In the mean time, parties from Sherman's army 
branched off" on different roads, seizing Rome, Georgia, and 
various other towns, besides bridges and ferries. 

Fight at New Hope Church. — The ground occupied by 
Johnston in defence of the important station at Alatoona on 
the railroad was so strong, that Sherman 
moved his whole army to Dallas on the 
west, where he intrenched himself, again 
intending to turn Johnston's position 
when his army should have rested a lit- 
tle. The Confederates followed and 
halted near New Hope Church, on May 
24th. The next day and for several 
days after, they were assailed by Hook- 
er's and Howell's corps, but repulsed all 
attacks. Until June 4th, skirmishing 
and fighting continued. The Federal 
army, meanwhile, was constantly push- 
A. p. sTEWAKT, TENN. jj-^g towards tlic rallroad, throwing up 
intrenchments as they moved. Alatoona had to be given 




Lincoln's Administration, 1864.. 48*7 

up by the Southern army, and positions taken to protect 
Marietta from capture. 

General Polk Killed. — On the 14th of June, while watch- 
ing the Federal advance from the top of a hill known as Pine 
Knob, General Polk was struck in the breast by a cannon 
ball, and instantly killed. This good brave leader was a 
great loss to his men, to the army of Tennessee, and to the 
South. During the hard marching and constant watching 
and fighting of the last few weeks, while active and diligent 
in meeting his military responsibilities, he had been espe- 
cially earnest and constant in the discharge of his private and 
religious duties. On the first night after joining General 
Johnston at Dalton, the Bishop-General had baptized Gene- 
ral Hood in his tent at midnight; and, a few evenings later, 
he had administered the same sacred rite to General John- 
ston. Johnston received his baptism kneeling in his tent 
with Hood and Hardee. Hood was on crutches and could 
not kneel, so he was allowed to receive the ordinance stand- 
ing on his crutches. 

His Last Days. — The Sunday previous to his death, Bishop 
Polk, after going through his private devotions, assembled 
his staff and all who could get within sound of his voice, 
and read the morning service of the Episcopal Church in 
his usual devout and impressive manner. In his pocket, 
soaked with his heart's blood, were found four religious 
tracts, on three of which he had written the names of his 
companions in responsibility and danger — Generals John- 
ston, Hardee, and Hood. His remains were carried to 
Augusta and laid in the chancel of St. Paul's Church. The 
whole South as well as his brother bishops North and South, 
testified to the nobleness, purity, and sincerity of his char- 
acter and life. 

Sherman's Advance. — The continued advance of Sher- 
man's army by its right flank made it necessary for John- 
ston to occupy a new line between Marietta and Kennesaw 
Mountain, on June 19th. The Federal hosts attacked him 
here unsuccessfully, on the 24th; and again, on the 27th, 
a double assault was made on different parts of the lines, 
resulting in heavy loss to the attacking forces. But check 
and foil him in detail as they might, it was impossible for 
the Southern army to keep back Sherman's continued ad- 



488 



History of the United States. 




WIRT ADAMS, MISS. 



vance. The weather was most trying from incessant rains; 
the roads were deep and heavy with mud; the soldiers were 
worn out with constant marches and expo- 
sure in the trenches. Worse than this, 
they were disheartened by the continual 
retreat. They could not see the whole con- 
dition of affairs nor understand the strategy 
which strove to draw the invading army so 
far from its base as to render it easier to 
handle, and many desertions were the 
consequence of their discouragement and 
disappointment. 

Hood Put in Command. — Before long, Johnston crossed 
the Chattahoochee and took position on Peach Tree Creek, 
ready to fight or withdraw at necessity into the fortifications 
around Atlanta. Sherman followed, repairing the railroad 
and bridges as he came, so as to bring his depots of sup- 
plies constantly nearer to him. Just at this crisis, on July 
17th, the authorities in Richmond, becoming impatient at 
Johnston's incessant falling back, relieved him from the 
command of the army, which was confided to General Hood. 
Hood was a brave man, a gallant fighter, and a devoted 
patriot, but he lacked many qualities requisite for a success- 
ful commander, and events soon showed that the change of 
generals had not been fortunate for the South. 

Attack and Defeat. — After crossing the Chattahoochee, 
McPherson's command moved eastward to the Augusta Rail- 
road, which he tore up ; and then he occupied 
the town of Decatur. The rest of the army 
took position opposite the Confederate lines, 
stretching out to surround Atlanta as far as 
they could. General Hood had been put at 
the head of the Confederate army with the 
understanding that he must fight. On the 
afternoon of July 20th, perceiving that parts 
of Sherman's army were in motion, Hood 
made an attack on what he believed to be a weak point in the 
Federal line. The Confederates broke through the Federal 
right, and at first carried everything before them; but Hook- 
er's corps gave such strong support to Howard's men first at- 
tacked, that the Confederates could not maintain their advan- 




A. R. LAWTON, QA. 



Lincoln's Administration, 18 64-. 489 

tage, and after a half hour's deadly fighting, they were forced 
back to their intrenchments, with the loss of several thou- 
sand killed and wounded who were left in the enemy's hands, 

McPherson Killed. — In the mean time, McPherson with his 
army moved from Decatur to the southeast of Atlanta. 
Hood swung around to meet him and attacked him with 
great vigor, on the 22d, while Wheeler operated in his rear 
along the railroad. For a time, the Confederates gained 
great success. General McPherson was killed, a large num- 
ber of his men were killed and wounded, and guns and 
colors were captured. But the success was again only tem- 
porary, and the Southern army was driven back with heavy 
loss. Hood now drew into the fortifications around Atlanta, 
and the siege of that city began. 

Siege of Atlanta. — Sherman did not make a direct attack 
on the fortifications, but intrenched himself and began to 
move towards the Confederate left. On the evening of the 
27th, Hood again attacked the Federal line. His advance 
was gallant, but, after repeated assaults, proved as unsuc- 
cessful as the former ones. Large cavalry 
expeditions were sent to pass behind the 
army to cut its communications, and to do 
all the damage they could. Some of these 
were successful, others were met and severely 
handled by General Wheeler and the South- 
ern cavalry. In one of these raids. General 
Stoneman of the Federal army set out with „owell cobb ga. 
5,000 horsemen, to reach Macon and free a 
number of Northern prisoners confined there. His plans came 
to grief. His command was surrounded and he himself cap- 
tured with 1,000 men and some guns. 

Evacuation of Atlanta. — Around Atlanta there was little 
done for nearly a month. From time to time, the city was 
shelled, and the besieging works gradually contracted. 
General Wheeler, having done much damage to the Federal 
cavalry, passed round Sherman's rear, cutting his commu- 
nications and capturing his supplies. But this was an un- 
fortunate move for the Southern army. Sherman sent out 
other cavalry raids which cut the railroad to Macon and did 
more damage. Finding that he could not completely invest 
Atlanta, he moved his whole army west and south of the 




490 History of the United States. 

city, expecting by this process to compel its avacuation. 
Hood did find his communications hopelessly injured, and 
he was obliged to evacuate Atlanta, to avoid the fate of 
Pemberton in Vicksburg. Such stores and supplies as could 
not be moved were destroyed. Magazines and ordnance 
stores were exploded, and the Southern army abandoned the 
city during the night of September 1st. This move was 
made more imperative from the fact that Andersonville, 
where 34,000 Federal prisoners were held, was not very far 
away, and it was necessary to prevent the Federal cavalry 
from reaching the place and turning the prisoners loose on 
the surrounding country. 

Sherman in Atlanta. — Finding Atlanta in his power, Gene- 
ral Sherman occupied it. His men went into camp for a 
rest which they greatly needed. His communications north- 
ward were carefully repaired, and, in the mean time, he car- 
ried out his usual policy of destruction and devastation. 
The residents of the city, old and young, the sick and feeble 
as well as those who were well and strong, were driven from 
their homes and compelled to find shelter where they could. 
The depots, factories, and important buildings were then de- 
stroyed, and the whole country round it was laid waste. Its 
capture was a great blow to the South. So many of the 
railroads from Virginia to the Gulf States centered there, that 
its loss meant the cutting off of many of the most valuable 
supplies to the Southern armies and people. At the North, 
exultation filled the hearts of the enemies of the South who 
had been depressed by Grant's failure to capture Richmond. 
General Sherman became a favorite, and his success had a 
great effect on the approaching fall elections. 

Mobile Bay Held by the Federals. — Mobile Bay, too, had 
been taken by Admiral Farragut with 4 monitors, 14 steam 
vessels carrying 200 guns, and 2,800 men, besides a land 
force under General Granger. The small Confederate fleet 
and garrison could make little resistance to the combined 
effort. All blockade-running into the bay was stopped, 
though the city continued in Confederate possession. The 
thanks of the nation to General Sherman and his army, 
and to Admiral Farragut and his command, for their suc- 
cesses at Atlanta and Mobile Bay, were proclaimed by 
President Lincoln, and salutes of 100 guns were fired in 



Lincoln's Administration, 186 If. 



491 



honor of their victories at each arsenal and navy yard in the 
Federal possession. 

Numbers on Both Sides. — During the whole campaign 
from Dalton to Atlanta, and in the defence of the city, the 
Federal army lost from battle and sickness 47,245. The 
Confederates lost about 
23,000. When Penn- 
sylvania was invaded 
by Lee, Mr. Lincoln 
called out 300,000 men 
for six months, and in 
October of 1863 he called 
for 300,000 volunteers 
to serve for three years 
or until the close of the 
war. Unless this force 
volunteered, men were 
to be drafted. Within 
the year 1864, a draft 
of 500,000 men was 
ordered to be executed 
on March 10th, another 
of 200,000 men for the regular army and navy on March 
14th, and again, on July 18th, President Lincoln called for 
500,000 more men for one year, to be drafted in case they 
did not volunteer before September 5th. This made the vast 
number of 1,200,000 called for in nine months. Nobody 
favored the drafting, and to avert it, the different States and 
cities offered very large bounties to induce men to volunteer. 
Only half the 500,000 ordered out on July 18th were raised, 
and, on December 19th, Mr. Lincoln issued a proclamation 
for 300,000 more to be drafted, if they did not volunteer. 
The whole number of men marshalled on the Confederate 
side from the beginning to the end of the struggle did not 
reach 800,000, and, of this number, not more than 250,000 
were in the field in 1864. 

Hood's Advance Into Tennessee. — While Sherman lay 
quietly in Atlanta, Hood determined on the rash expedi- 
ent of moving westward and north into Tennessee, hoping, 
by thus getting into his rear and occupying his line of com- 
munications, to force Sherman to abandon Georgia. Hood's 




ADMIRAL BUCHANAN, C. S. 




492 History of the United States. 

army, consisting of 40,000 men, moved across the Chatta- 
hoochee on September 29th, and taking very nearly the 
same route b}^ wliich Johnston had retreated, captured the 
smaller depots and garrisons, and passed round the stronger 
ones, breaking up the railroad as they 

P moved northward. A gallant attempt, made 

by General S. G. French, to carry the works 
at Alatoona and destroy the supplies collected 
there was rendered unsuccessful by the ap- 
proach of Federal forces which threatened 
to surround him ; and the army proceeded 
on its march. Tilton, Resaca, Dalton, and 

S. G, FRENCH, MISS. ~ ,, TT-n • i • i 

Tunnell Hill were successively occupied. 
Avoiding the fortifications at Chattanooga, Hood turned to- 
ward the southwest, and marched to Gadsden, Alabama, 
where he was joined by Wheeler's cavalry. 

Forrest in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama.— His in- 
tention was to move northward and cross the Tennessee 
River at Bridgeport, which he hoped would force Sherman 
to fall back across that river also. He expected to be joined 
by Forrest at Bridgeport. But that bold cavalry leader had 
not received his orders. During the spring and summer he 
had been operating in western Tennessee, in northern Mis- 
sissippi, and Alabama, and had done great injury to the 
Federal cavalry and communications. In one engagement 
on Tishomingo Creek in Mississippi, on June 10th, he had 
defeated 10,000 Federal troops with 3,500 men, and had 
killed, wounded, and captured more than 2,000 of the enemy; 
he had taken 18 pieces of artillery, a large number of small 
arms and ammunition, besides all their baggage and sup- 
plies. His own loss was 493. A series of brilliant exploits 
in Mississippi, Tennessee, and Alabama followed this, all 
intended to cut Sherman's communications, and destroy his 
supplies. Forrest was especially active in destroying gun- 
boats and transports on the Tennessee River. In this work 
he was engaged, when he was ordered to report to General 
Hood, who, instead of crossing the Tennessee, had marched 
westward to Florence, Alabama. The only hope for success 
to Hood's forward movement was in sudden and rapid ad- 
vance. Instead of this, he did not reach Florence until 
November 1st, and did not cross into Tennessee until the 
20th of that month. 



Lincoln's Administration, 1864- 



493 



Thomas Sent to Tennessee. — When Sherman found that 
Hood had gone off towards Tennessee and left Georgia almost 
undefended, he sent Thomas to Nashville to take command 
and make preparations for the defence of the State. He 
himself followed Hood with most of his army, until the 
Southern commander turned westward from Gadsden to 
Florence. He then sent the 4th and 23d army corps to 
Thomas, while he returned to Atlanta with the other troops 
and made ready to move through Georgia to Savannah. 

Battle of Franklin. — Hood pressed on into middle Ten- 
nessee with about 35,000 men. His long delays had given 
Thomas time to mature his plans, 
repair the railroads, and collect 
some 60,000 troops to repel his in- 
vasion. As the Confederate array 
advanced, the Federal army fell 
back from place to place. Schofield 
was ordered to hold Franklin. Here 
Hood attacked him on November 
30th, and carried the outer lines. 
Orders were given to carry the in- 
ner fortifications at daylight the 
next morning, but Schofield re- 
treated during the night leaving 
his dead and wounded behind him. 
It was a dearly bought victory, gained with the loss of 
6,000 men and five generals. Among the slain was the gal- 
lant Cleburne. The Federal loss in 
this engagement was 3,500. On De- 
cember 2d, Hood advanced to Nash- 
ville, where he took position and 
sent Forrest's cavalry and a division 
o f infantry against Murfreesboro. 
The infantry, however, behaved badly 
and the plan failed. 

Battle of Nashville. — Things re- 
mained quiet at Nashville until De- 
cember 15th, when the Federal army 
attacked the Confederate lines and 
got possession of the defences on its 
left. The next day, the 16th, the 
battle was renewed with little apparent effect until 3:30 P. 




J. M. SCHOFIELD, U. S. A. 




V. K. CLEBURNE, ARK. 




494 History of the United States. 

M., when the Federal forces broke through the left centre. 

In a few moments the entire Confederate line gave wa}^ and 
the troops retreated in great confusion to- 
wards Franklin; and no efforts of the offi- 
cers could rally them to a stand. The loss 
in killed and wounded was small, but 54 
pieces of artillery were abandoned to the 
enemy. Hood's army did not pause in its 
rapid retreat, until it recrossed the Tennes- 
see at Bridgeport, on December 27th. 

E. C. WALTHALL, MISS. ^11 1 j. ■ ■ j. ^ ± 

Thomas kept up a vigorous pursuit, but 
was prevented from inflicting more severe injuries by the 
courage of the rear guard under General Forrest. 

Effects. — On this disastrous expedition. Hood lost about 
20,000 men in killed, wounded, prisoners, and deserters, and 
72 guns. The Federal loss was perhaps half as great. But 
the loss to the South was far more than the mere loss of men 
and guns: it was the destruction of all hope of recovering 
and maintaining independence in Kentucky, Tennessee, 
Mississippi, and the States west of it. It was a crushing, 
dispiriting blow. In the North, Thomas's victory was felt 
to be so important that Congress passed a vote of thanks to 
him and his army. 

AUTHORITIES.— Draper's History of the Civil War; Ridpath's History of the United 
States ; Official Reports and Correspondence in Government War Records ; General 
Grant's Personal Memoirs; Sherman's Memoir; J. E. Johnston's Narrative; Davis's 
Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government ; Pollard's Lost Cause ; Taylor's Destruc- 
tion and Reconstruction; Long's and Lee's Memoirs of Robert E. Lee; Taylor's Four 
Years with Lee; Battles and Leaders of the Civil War; Newspapers of the Period; 
Appleton's Annual Cyclopedia; Hood's Advance and Retreat; Memoir of General 
Polk. 

QUESTIONS. — 1. Tell of Sherman's and Johnston's armies in Georgia. 
2. Their movements. 3. The fight at New Hope Church. 4. How was 
General Polk killed'? 5. Tell of his last days. G. Describe the marching of 
the two armies. 7. Who was now put in command of tlie Confederate army ? 
8. Tell of his attack and defeat. 9. What success did he have near Atlanta ? 
10. Tell of the siege of Atlanta. 11. Its evacuation. 12. How were the peo- 
ple of the city treated? 13. What bay was next taken by the Federals? 

14. What numbers were engaged on both sides in this whole campaign? 

15. Where did Hood now go? 16. Tell of his advance. 17. Describe Forrest's 
exploits in Tennessee, Mississippi, and x\labama. 18. Who was sent to Ten- 
nessee against Hood ? 19. Tell of the battle of Franklin. 20. Of the battle 
of Nashville. 21. What were the effects of this expedition ? 




CHAPTER LXXX. 

LINCOLN'S ADMINISTRATION, C0NTINUED.~186i. 

Attack on Petersburg. — After the ineffectual assault on 
the Confederate lines at Cold Harbor, on June 3d, General 
Grant determined to cross to the south side of James River. 
The railroads leading southward centered in Petersburg, and 
by seizing that city, Richmond would be deprived of all 
southern communications. The crossing 
of the river began on June 14th. General 
Beauregard, commanding at Petersburg, 
had sent nearly all his men to the north 
side to aid in defending Richmond, and had 
only 2,200 soldiers, most of them militia, 
to hold the works around Petersburg. 
Against these General " Baldy " Smith 
moved on the morning of the 15th with d. h. maury, va. 
18,000 men. Why he did not press forward and seize the 
place cannot be known. The artillery fire was so severe 
and accurate that he thought there must be a large infantr}'- 
force supporting it. Later in the day he did advance and 
take possession of part of the outer line of fortifications. 
Hancock's corps came up, and together they might have 
overrun everything in front of them. The men were, how- 
ever, wearied with long hot marching, and the generals 
waited until next morning to renew the attack. 

Lee Reinforces Beauregard. — As soon as General Lee be- 
came sure that Grant was really moving against Petersburg, 
he sent reinforcements to Beauregard. Beauregard drew in 
the forces he had at Bermuda Hundred opposite Butler, also 
Hoke's division from Drewry's Bluff. These reached Pe- 
tersburg, during the evening of the 16th, and were in posi- 
tion behind the second line of works, hurriedly chosen, 
when Meade and Hancock attacked them on the same eve- 
ning. A great part of Grant's army was brought rapidly 
up to capture Petersburg before Lee's men, moving on a 
longer line, could prevent it. On the 17th, and again on 

[ 495 J 



496 History of the United States. 

the 18th, tremendous assaults were made on the Confede- 
rate position, which failed to dislodge its defenders, who, 
when too hardly pressed at one point, withdrew to a still 
stronger one. 

Defence. — General Grant and General Lee were both pres- 
ent, when the final effort was made by the Federal force, on 
the evening of the 18th. So far, Beauregard alone had held 
in check the assailants, more than four times as numerous 
as his own force; but now the main part of Lee's army had 
come up, and Grant decided to desist for a while from at- 
tack in order to fortify his lines and give his men a needed 
rest. In the three days' fighting, 10,000 of his soldiers had 
been destroyed, as many as Beauregard had m all. Not only 
had Petersburg been defended, but Pickett's division had, 
on the 18th, recaptured the lines at Bermuda Hundred which 
Butler had occupied when their defenders were withdrawn 
to Petersburg. 

Intrenchments. — Both parties now busied themselves for 
several days in digging trenches, and making their lines of 
defence as strong as possible. Grant's plan was to extend 
his intrenchments gradually southward and then westward; 
to make them impregnable with earthworks, ditches, para- 
pets and all the resources known to modern engineering; 
to seize the railroads leading into Petersburg, and having 
cut off all supplies, to enclose the city and Lee's army with 
a wall of steel. Lee, also, spared no labor nor skill in de- 
fending the city, and built up his intrenchments as power- 
fully as his numbers and resources permitted. 

Lee's Difficult Task. — Lee's situation was from the first a 
most difficult one. He was obliged to defend both Peters- 
burg and Richmond, with lines of intrenchments thirty-five 
miles long, against an army more than double his own. 
The vast numbers of soldiers called for by Mr. Lincoln, as we 
have already seen, made it easy to double or treble the be- 
sieging army. Already the conscription at the South had 
called for all the men between the ages of seventeen and 
fifty, "robbing," as it was said, "both the cradle and the 
grave." The causes spoken of before prevented these con- 
scriptions from being enforced, and as the limits and re- 
sources of the Confederacy became constantly more and 
more restricted, there was little prospect of increase from 



Lincoln's Administration, 186^. 



497 



any source to the Army of Northern Virginia. The question 
of supplying the army was still more difficult. Food for 
the men and forage for the horses became scarcer daily. A 
fourth of a pound of meat and a pound of flour was all the 
food that could be provided for each soldier. Officers with 
servants had to divide this scanty ration with them. The 
clothing for the men was as poor as the food. The sick and 
wounded in the hospitals lacked the comforts and care which 
neither sympathy nor anxiety could provide, and the fami- 
lies of the soldiers, at home, suffered almost as much as the 
army did in the field. It took $60 of Confederate money to 
be worth one silver dollar. There was little to buy, and no 
money to pay for what there was. 

Supplies at the North. — The Northern government and 
the besieging army had everything to encourage them. Un- 
limited supplies of men, of food, 
of animals, clothing of the best, 
and arms of greatest efficiency, 
all were furnished without stint, 
and the nation showed such con- 
fidence in General Grant that it 
did not grumble at the great loss 
of life and the delay in effecting 
his purposes. 

Mahone's Attack. — In spite of 
want among the Southern sol- 
diers and anxiety on the minds 
of the leaders, the spirits and 
courage of both kept up in a won- 
derful manner. On June 22d, 
Mahone struck the Federal left, 
which was extending itself to oc- 
cupy a new position on the flank. The Confederates moved 
unseen through a ravine, planted their artillery where it 
could do dire execution, and then charging through the 
thick pine growth, burst T^^th a piercing yell upon the Fede- 
ral troops, still in motion. The surprise was complete. The 
Federal advance retreated in dismay, as the Southern shot 
and shell burst upon them. One division after another 
went down before the onslaught, and Gibbon's intrenchments 
were successfully carried. When night fell the attacking 
32 




WILLIA.M MAHONE, VA. 




498 History of the United States. 

force returned to the Confederate lines with nearly 2,000 
prisoners, 4 cannon, a quantity of small arms, and 8 flags. 
Ream's Station. — The same day, Wilson and Kautz with 
some 6,000 cavalry set out to destroy the Weldon, Southside, 
and Danville railroads. General Lee's son, 
AV. H. F. Lee, had not cavalry enough to 
prevent the injury to the roads, but he at- 
tacked and greatly harassed the raiders. 
The local militia, intrenched at Staunton 
River, kept them back. Hampton's cavalry 
drove them steadily all one day. Wilson, 
bewildered at so many attacks in a strange 

M. L. BONHAM, S. C. , j.-Jj.„11,- i.1, 

country, tried to make his way out by 
Ream's Station where he expected to find friends. Instead 
of this, he was met by Mahone with Confederate infantry 
and Pegram's artillery, and was attacked in the rear by 
Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry and utterly routed, 12 guns, a number 
of wagons, and 1,000 of his men being captured. 

Day of Humiliation and Prayer. — The Northern people 
were so much depressed at these checks to their soldiers and 
at Hunter's failure to capture Lynchburg, that Mr. Lincoln, 
complying with a request from Congress, appointed the 7tli 
of July as a day of humiliation and prayer for the suppres- 
sion of the rebellion and the success of the Federal armies. 
Public thanksgivings had been ordered after the victories at 
Shiloh, at Vicksburg, and Gettysburg, as well as on the 
annual Thanksgiving Day in November. In the vicissitudes 
of fortune in the South, Mr. Davis had repeatedly called 
upon the people to humble themselves and ask God for help 
amid reverses, and to return thanks when they were deliv- 
ered from threatened destruction; but this was the only 
time when public prayers were deemed necessary at the 
North. 

Plan to Blow up the Defences. — The two lines of intrench- 
ments at Petersburg were very close together, and the be- 
sieging guns constantly threw shells into the defences and 
into the city itself, endangering the lives of the citizens 
and bursting into churches and private houses. Finding 
assaults powerless to break the fortifications, a mine was 
dug at a point under the Confederate lines, where it was 
hoped an explosion would make a breach, and allow the 



Lincoln^ s Administration, 186^. 



499 



Federal troops to enter. Four days before the mine was to 
be sprung, Grant began crossing his men back to the north 
of James River, as though some important move were in- 
tended. It was impossible to know what the movement 
indicated, and Lee was obliged to carry some of his force 
over also, to be ready to check any advance upon Richmond. 
This was what Grant desired, and as soon n« the Confede- 



^>> 





PETERSBURG CRATER. 



rates were well on the north side, Hancock was brought 
back to Petersburg on the night of the '29th. The mine 
was to be exploded on the morning of the 30th, and Grant 
hoped that his 65,000 men could easily capture Petersburg 
from the 13,000 remaining to defend it. 

Explosion of the Mine. — The digging of the mine and its 
exact location were known to General Lee, although he could 



500 



History of the United States. 



not know when it would be sprung. A strong line of defence 
had been made in its rear, while cannon and mortars were 
placed where they could cover the position with a heavy 
cross fire. The explosion occurred as had been directed, 
with a tremendous roar, and an upheaval of a great mass of 
earth which rose into the air and then burst asunder, scat- 
tering timber, stones, broken gun-carriages, muskets, and 
mutilated corpses around in hideous confusion. A breach 
was made in the Confederate lines 135 feet long, 90 feet 
wide, and 30 feet deep; 256 South Carolinians and 22 Peters- 
burg artillerymen were buried beneath the ruins. The Con- 
federates near the mine were for a moment stunned and 
stupefied by the shock. Those farther away could not con- 
jecture what was the matter. 

Fight at the Crater. — The assault to be made through 
the breach was intrusted to Burnside's corps, and it was at 
first ordered that a negro division should lead it. This, 



however, was overruled, and white 
troops were placed in front. They 
also were too much alarmed by the 
thunder and upheaval in front of 
them to advance at once. When 
they did clamber over their own 
breastworks, and over the debris 
thrown into the 1 30 yards of open 
space between them and the Crater, 
they found themselves on the edge 
of the enormous hole piled with the 
heap of ruins upheaved by the pow- 
der. Instantly, the Confederate 
guns and mortars opened upon 
them. To plunge into the hole was 
their only safety. To clamber up its farther side and occupy 
the ground in the rear, in face of the fire poured into them, 
was impossible. General Lee hurried up his men to the 
scene, and the resistance to the advance became stronger 
every moment. One after another the white troops were 
sent forward and driven back. The Crater was crowded 
with soldiers, the heat of the morning sun was intense, the 
concentrated Confederate fire became more and more gall- 
ing. 




E. BAN80M. N. C. 



Lincoln's Administration, 1864. 501 

Negro Soldiers.— When his white soldiers had been thus 
exposed and mown down for two hours, Burnside ordered 
the negro troops to advance. They did not enter the Crater, 
but passed round its side and moved forward. But the 
deadly Confederate fire hurled upon them was more than 
they could face. They broke in disorder and ran for their 
lives, some into the Crater, some back to the lines from 
which they came. Another and another advance of white 
troops was attempted. Some of these got possession of part 
of the Confederate lines. 

Surrender and Losses. — At last, Lee had his men in proper 
position. They charged gallantly upon their assailants and 
drove them from the points they had seized. All this time, 
shell and shot were slaughtering the men huddled together 
within the Crater, and, just when their comrades had been 
sent flying back to their intrenchments, a white flag pro- 
jected above the Crater told that the men left alive there 
had surrendered. In this horrible aff'air the Federals lost 
about 4,000 men, the Confederates about as many hundreds. 
The scene at the Crater, where the dead and mangled lay 
heaped up beneath the sweltering sun, was ghastly beyond 
description. The valor and skill of the 13,000 men and 
their generals, which thus turned a well laid plan and an 
assault supported by 50,000 men into complete disaster, show 
what the spirit and ability of the Southern troops continued 
to be after so many months of battle, toil, and privation. 

Early's Move into Maryland. — Notwithstanding the great 
odds against him. General Lee decided to make another 
offensive move by which he might cause 
the withdrawal of some of Grant's large 
army. To eff'ect this, General Early, who 
after the battle of Cold Harbor had been 
ordered towards Lynchburg, was directed 
to move his force — about 10,000 strong — 
from Lynchburg to Staunton; and then, if 
the way proved open, to hasten northward 
down the Shenandoah Valley, drive out the ^ 
Federal forces, cross into Maryland, and i- ^ ' "">-'son,md. 
make demonstrations towards Washington, which might 
cause reinforcements to be summoned to defend that city. 
Early, obeying Lee's directions, moved as fast as possible 




502 History of the United States. 

over the mountains and down the Shenandoah Valley, The 
cavalry under Generals Bradley T. Johnson and McCausland 
pressed on before the infantry. By July 2d, Early was at 
Winchester, and on the 6th, he crossed the Potomac at 
Shepherdstown, having driven Sigel with several thousand 
men into the fortifications at Harper's Ferry. 

Battle of Monocacy Bridge. — Not stopping to contend 
with these, Early turned eastward across the mountains, re- 
tracing very much the route by which Lee and McClellan 
had reached the battle-field of Sharpsburg. At the Monocacy 
Bridge near Frederick City, on July 9th, he encountered 
General Lew Wallace with about 7,000 men. A sharp fight 
took place. The Federal troops were defeated with a loss of 
some 2,000 men, and Early pressed on towards Washington. 
On the 10th, his troops marched thirty miles, and on the 
11th, appeared in front of the fortifications at Washington. 
The excessive heat and dust, added to their long marching 
and fighting, had exhausted them so much that they were 
not fit for an attack of any kind. Their presence in Mary- 
land had produced alarm and anxiety throughout the North. 
Their numbers were asserted to be 30,000 or 40,000, and 
large bodies of troops were hurried to the defence of the 
Federal Capital. 

Early Before Washington. — Had Early's men been in tol- 
erable condition, he might perhaps have entered the outer 
line of defences at Washington, but the fortifications of the 
city were tremendously strong and defended by powerful 
guns, and the 10,000 Confederates could not possibly have 
held them against the thousands of soldiers hastening up to 
reinforce the 10,000 regulars and large military force already 
on the ground. Early, therefore, after remaining in front 
of the fortifications all day, and repulsing an attack of the 
Federal troops, withdrew his men and recrossed the Poto- 
mac safely at Leesburg on the 13th. Remaining quiet a few 
days to rest his men, he returned to the Valley, where he 
defeated Averill and Crook at Snicker's Ferry and on the old 
battle-field of Kernstown ; then he took a position below 
Winchester where he could either advance again or fall back 
up the Valley. 

Burning- of Chambersburg. — This campaign is remarka- 
ble, not so much for its success against two armies, each 



Lincoln's Administration, 1864- ^OS 

equal to the Southern forces, nor for the panic which the 
small force created throughout the North, as because it was 
the only occasion upon which the Southern authorities at- 
tempted any systematic retaliation for the outrages and de- 
vastation so widely perpetrated throughout the South. 
While in Maryland, railroads, trains, and bridges were de- 
stroyed by the cavalry, horses in large numbers were 
carried off, and contributions of money were levied on the 
towns. Blair's residence near Washington was burned. After 
the return of the Southern army to the Valley, the cavalry 
under Generals Bradley T. Johnson and McCausland were 
sent to Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, and Cumberland, 
Maryland, to collect either $100,000 in gold or $500,000 
United States currency, to reimburse the citizens of the 
lower Valley whose homes had been burned by General Hun- 
ter, In case this demand was not complied with, Cham- 
bersburg was to be burned. Chambersburg did not furnish 
the money and was fired by McCausland. The denuncia- 
tions of the Northern officers and newspapers against the 
inhuman and savage barbarity of this burning of a single 
town, were in singular contrast to the complacency with 
which they described and illustrated the hundreds of con- 
flagrations throughout the South. 

Early and Sheridan. — As Early continued to threaten and 
alarm the North by remaining in the vicinity of the Poto- 
mac River, General Sheridan was sent to 
command the forces opposed to him. An 
army of 55,000 men was placed at his dis- 
posal, 12,000 of whom were cavalry under 
Averill, Custer, and Torbert. Lee reinforced 
Early by sending to him Anderson of 
Longstreet's corps with one division of in- 
fantry and one of cavalry. This raised 

T^ 1 J _p X -I ^ n.r\r\ T ±1 ±- GEO. A. CUSTER, U. S. A. 

Early s force to 14,000. In tlie mean time. 
Grant made another demonstration upon the north side of 
James River, and Lee was obliged to call Anderson back 
from the Valley, to hold part of the long lines of defence. 
As soon as Early was thus weakened, Sheridan attacked 
him at Winchester on September 19th. Sheridan's force 
was as numerous as Lee's army at Petersburg, and with his 
50,000 men, by hard fighting, he overcame the 14,000 Conr 




504 



History of the United States. 




J. K. KERSHAW, S. C. 



federates, although his loss exceeded theirs by 1,000 men. 
Another severe blow was given Early on the 22d, which 
forced him to fall back fifty miles up the A^'alley. 

Victory and Defeat at Cedar Creek. — Lee sent Ker- 
shaw back to Early, and they attacked Sheridan's in- 
trenched camp near Cedar Creek, before 
daylight on the morning of October 
19th. The Federal force was completely 
taken by surprise and driven panic- 
stricken for miles, leaving the camp and 
its stores and a number of guns in Early's 
hands. The temptation presented to the 
soldiers by the comforts and luxuries of the 
captured camp was more than Early's half 
starved men could resist, and believing 
their foes to be routed, numbers of them 
stopped to jDlunder and refresh themselves; and so the pur- 
suit was not vigorously pressed. In the mean time, Sheri- 
dan, who was at Winchester, learning that his men were 
fleeing in disorder, rode rapidly forward, 
met and rallied many of the fugitives, and 
encouraged them to return with him to the 
battle-field. His presence revived the spirit 
of the troops who had not become disor- 
ganized. His available force and espe- 
pecially his cavalry still largely outnum- 
bered Early's army. He re-formed his 
lines, and late in the day attacked and ut- 
terly routed the Confederates, capturing their guns, their 
wagons and hundreds of their men, besides regaining what 
his army had lost in the morning. 

Sheridan's Devastation of the Valley. — Early's small army, 
wasted by the severe fights of the campaign, was almost de- 
stroyed by this last disastrous defeat; and there was no ade- 
quate force left to prevent Sheridan's progress through the 
Valley, which was marked by fire and devastation. De- 
scribing it, he wrote, " The whole country from the Blue 
Ridge to North Mountain has been made untenable for a 
rebel army. I have destroyed over 2,000 barns filled with 
wheat, hay, and farming implements; over 70 mills filled 
with flour and wheat; have driven in front of the army over 




T. L. CLINGMAN, N. C. 



Lincoln's Administration, 1864.. 505 

4,000 head of stock, and have killed and issued to the troops 
over 3,000 sheep." It was the same ruthless policy which 
Sherman had pursued in Mississippi, and which he was 
about to make still more destructive in Georgia. 

Grant on the James. — Grant continued to extend his lines 
both north and south of James River. Part of the Weldon 
Railroad was seized, and his advance troops captured new 
positions, and from time to time injured the other railroads. 
In the repeated encounters with the cavalry and infantry 
opposing his efforts, he suffered severely, and lost double, 
sometimes treble, what the Southern army did. 

AUTHORITIES.— Draper's History of the Civil War; Ridpath's History of the United 
States ; Grant's Personal Memoirs ; Ollicial Reports and Correspondence in Government 
War Records; Sherman's Memoir; Stephens s History of the United States ; Fitzhugh 
Lee's Memoir of Robert E.Lee; Taylor's Four Years with Lee: Raymond's Life of Lin- 
coln ; Memoir of General Pendleton; Semmes's Service AHoat ; Battles and Leaders 
of the Civil War; Davis's Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government; Pollard's 
Lost Cause; Appleton's Annual Cyclopedia ; Newspapers of the Period; Humphrey's 
Virginia Campaigns. 

QUESTIONS.— 1 . Tell of the attaek on Petersburg in June. 2. Who "svas in 
command there? 3. Tell of the defence. 4. "What was the next move of 
Grant? 5. Describe the difficult task that Lee had. 6. What great contrast 
to this -was the condition of the North ? 7. Describe Mahone's attack. 8. The 
battle at Ream's Station. 9. What effect had all this on the North ? 10. What 
plan did Grant now adopt ? 11. Tell of the explosion of the mine. 13. Of the 
fight at the Crater. 13. Of the negro soldiers. 14. Of the siu-render and the 
losses. 15. What move was now made into Maryland? 16. Describe the bat- 
tle at Monocacy Bridge. 17. Early's march to Washington and back to the 
Valley. 18. The burning of Chambersburg. 19. Tell of Early and Sheridan 
in the Vallej'-. 20. Of the victory and defeat at Cedar Creek. 21. Sheridan's 
devastation in the Valley. 22. What were Grant's movements on the James ? 



CHAPTER LXXXI. 

LINCOLN'S ADMINISTRATION, CONTINUED.— ISBIp. 

Sherman's March to the Sea. — Sherman set out from At- 
lanta, November 15th, with 60,000 infantry, 5,500 cavalry, 
and a considerable artillery force, all well supplied with 
wagons and provisions. Knowing that his movements 
would be through a fertile country and that there was no 
army to resist his advance, he gave orders to his men to 
subsist as much as possible on the country. The army was 
divided into several parts which moved upon different roads, 
some going southward to Macon, and others directly to Mil- 



506 History of the United States. 

ledgeville. There was little restriction as to pillage and 
destruction in the towns and districts through which they 

P passed, and all were to direct their 

^BEgftf^ course after a certain time towards 

^ " m^^^^^^k Savannah. Wheeler's cavalry hung 

^ ^B^ around the advancing Federals, ha- 

' ifflf I8pi^ bP^ rassing them somewhat, though un- 

i ^T ■ ^^^^^ ^^ cause them serious trouble. 

■ HMUnk. v«»/ '^^^ weather and roads were good; 

•HPM|^|( the men fed luxuriously upon the 

^Ug^^M \ abundant corn, sweet potatoes, poul- 

^^^■J^BL^ : try, and cattle of the region, and in- 

j£^H|^^^H^pi^ dulged, without restraint from their 

^ — ^^^^^^■^^^^«*^ officers, in plunder and destruction. 

A, PLKASANTON, U, S. A. rpi I. J A J • i32 1 j. • 1 

Ihey had lew dimculties or dangers 
to encounter, and pressed rapidly on. Milledgeville, the 
State capital, was occupied. All railroads were torn up. 

The "Bummers." — The "bummers," as the stragglers 
going out to forage and devastate were called, stole every- 
thing they could lay their hands on, carrying off what was 
portable, and wantonly destroying all they could not take 
away. Their doings are thus described by a Northern eye- 
witness: " Such little freaks as taking the last chicken, the 
last pound of meal, the last bit of bacon, and the only re- 
maining scraggy cow, from a poor woman and her flock of 
children, black or white not considered, came under the 
order of legitimate business. Even crockery, bed-covering, 
or clothes, were fair spoils. As for plate, or jewelry, or 
watches, these were things rebels had no use for. Men with 
pockets plethoric with silver and gold coin; soldiers sinking 
under the weight of plate and fine bedding materials; lean 
mules and horses, with the richest trappings of Brussels 
carpets, and hangings of fine chenille; negro wenches, par- 
ticularly good-looking ones, decked in satin and silks, and 
sporting diamond ornaments; officers with sparkling rings, 
that would set Tiffany in raptures — gave color to the stories 
of hanging up or fleshing an ' old cuss ' to make him shell 
out. A planter's house was overrun in a jiffy; boxes, draw- 
ers, and escritoires were ransacked with laudable zeal and 
emptied of their contents. If the spoils were ample, the 
depredators were satisfied, and went off in peace; if not, 



Lincoln's Administration, 1861. 507 

everything was torn and destroyed, and most likely the 
owner was tickled with sharp bayonets into a confession 
where he had his treasures hid. If he escaped and was 
hiding in a thicket, this was 'prima facie evidence that he 
was a skulking rebel; and most likely some ruffian, in his 
zeal to get rid of such vipers, gave him a dose of lead which 
cured him of his Secesh tendencies. Sorghum barrels were 
knocked open, bee-hives rifled, while their angry swarms 
rushed frantically about. Indeed, I have seen a soldier 
knock a planter down because a bee stung him. Should the 
house be deserted, the furniture is smashed in pieces, music 
is pounded out of four hundred dollar pianos with the ends 
of muskets. Mirrors were wonderfully multiplied, and rich 
cushions and carpets carried off to adorn teams and war- 
steeds. After all was cleared out, most likely some set of 
stragglers wanted to enjoy a good fire, and set the house, 
debris of furniture, and all the surroundings, in a blaze. 
This is the way Sherman's army lived on the country." 

Nearing Savannah. — At Millen, between Milledgeville and 
Savannah, there was a prison camp. Kilpatrick's cavalry 
were sent forward to set the prisoners free, but found them 
gone, and he received a severe handling from Wheeler's 
men. The different parts of the invading hosts were di- 
rected to meet at Millen, from which point they moved for 
Savannah. The Confederate Government could not collect 
a force of any strength to defend Savannah. The country, 
for ten miles around the city, is flat and 
swampy, and the rice plantations are cut 
up by great ditches full of water for flood- 
ing the rice fields. Efforts were made to 
obstruct the causeways which crossed this 
marshy district and to defend them with 
artillery. In spite of this slight oppo- 
sition, Sherman reached the immediate 
vicinity of Savannah on December 10th. 
Strong earthworks and heavy guns de- 
fended the roads which entered the place. 
One of these. Fort McAlister, was carried g- w. smith, ky. 
by assault on the 13th, but the Federal commander decided 
not to attack the city itself until he had opened communica- 
tions with the Federal fleet lying not far from it, and had 
mounted powerful cannon to bombard it. 





508 History of the United States. 

Fall of Savannah. — By the 17th of the month, his pre- 
parations were finished, and he sent a demand for tlie 
surrender of Savannah, adding that if it was not com- 
plied with, he would assault the city, would resort to the 
harshest measures, and would allow his men 
to wreak their vengeance upon it. General 
Hardee, commanding the Confederate forces 
in Savannah, had too few men to make a 
successful resistance, and the city was in 
no condition to stand a siege. But he de- 
clined to surrender the place, withdrew his 
army during the night of the 18th, and 

MCBUTLERSC 

moved it northward towards Charleston. 
Sherman's army occupied the place on the 21st, and on the 
next day, he wrote to Mr. Lincoln presenting him Savannah 
with 150 heavy guns and 25,000 bales of cotton, as a Christ- 
mas gift. 

Wholesale Destruction in Georgia. — This success, follow- 
ing so close upon Thomas's defeat of Hood at Nashville, 
filled the North with joy and exultation. Congratulations 
poured in upon General Sherman from all parts of the 
Union; from President Lincoln and General Grant, as well as 
votes of thanks from different legislatures and from the 
United States Congress. In their rejoicing at the result of 
the campaign, all seemed to lose sight of the inhuman means 
by which much of it had been accomplished. In reporting 
the march of his army, Sherman told that, besides destroy- 
ing 265 miles of railroad, they had consumed all the forage 
and food throughout a belt sixty miles wide from Atlanta 
to Savannah, and carried off 10,000 mules and horses, and 
a countless number of slaves; he added that they had done 
damage to the amount of $100,000,000 to the State of Geor- 
gia, $20,000,000 of which had been for the benefit of his 
army, the rest being simple waste and destruction. This 
vandalism he justified by saying, "We are not only fighting 
hostile armies, but a hostile people, and must make old and 
young, rich and poor, feel the hard hand of war." Hard it 
was, indeed, as he laid it on the defenceless women and 
children of Georgia. 

Price's Invasion of Missouri. — Some other occurrences of 
the year must be narrated before we close its eventful story. 



Lincoln's Administration, 1861,.. 



509 




J. O. SHELBY, 



About the middle of September, General Sterling Price in- 
vaded Missouri witli 10,000 men. He declared that he was 
not making a raid, but that he intended 
to occupy and hold the State. For a while, 
he moved almost unmolested through a 
large part of it, doing considerable damage 
to Federal property, and raising the hopes 
of the Confederates. But troops were gath- 
ered to oppose him. Numbers of his men 
who had not seen their homes for several 
years, deserted him to return to their fami- 
lies. He was attacked and defeated on October 23d, and 
again on the next day, and he had to retreat into Arkansas, 
his army having been badly cut up and demoralized. 

Morgan's Last Raid and Death. — At the time that Hunter 
was advancing up the Valley of Virginia, General John Mor 
gan was employed with his cavalry in East 
Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. The 
infantry with which he was co-operating, 
was carried to oppose Hunter, and Mor- 
gan, hoping to avert a Federal expedition 
into Southwest Virginia, determined to 
make another bold incursion into Ken- 
tucky. With little over 2,000 cavalry, he 
dashed into that State and captured Cyn- 
thiana and the garrison there, June 11th. 
The Federal troops intended for Virginia came up with him 
the next' day. He was attacked by a largely outnumbering 
force. His command was routed and forced to retreat into 
Tennessee. Here he collected his scattered men and ope- 
rated as he had done before, though on a smaller scale. 
Early in September, he was in the village of Greenville 
with only a small detachment of soldiers. The daughter-in- 
law of the woman at whose house he lodged, rode at night 
to a Federal camp some miles off and told where the gal- 
lant Confederate could be captured. Four companies of 
Federal cavalry dashed into the town and surrounded the 
house where he slept. His staff were captured, but Morgan 
escaped into the garden. He was unarmed. There was no 
possibility of his getting away from the surrounding soldiers, 
so he came out from his place of concealment, and surren- 




M. J. WRIGHT, TENN. 



510 



History of the United States. 




B. SEMMES, C. S. N. 



dered himself to the Federal captain. After this, a cavalry- 
man rode uj) within two feet of him, and notwithstanding 
Morgan's assurances that he was a prisoner, shot and killed 
him, and afterwards inflicted indignities upon his dead body. 
Confederate Cruisers. — You have read before of the injury 
to Federal commerce by the few Confederate privateers. Of 
these the Alabama, built at Birkenhead in England in 1862, 
and equipped on one of the Azores Islands, fr- 
was the most famous. She had cruised 
round the world under command of Captain 
Raphael Semmes, and had destroyed 
-nearly $10,000,000 worth of American 
vessels and cargoes; and together with 
her sister cruisers, the Sumter, the Florida, 
and the Shenandoah, she had nearly driven 
American merchant vessels from the ocean. 
After a long and successful cruise through the Atlantic, 
Pacific, and Indian Oceans, the Alabama went into the har- 
bor of Cherbourg, France, June 11th, for much needed re- 
pairs. 

The Alabama and the Kearsarge. — The United States war 
vessel Kearsarge, commanded by Captain Winslow, which 
was cruising near the French coast, came up and took its 
station off the breakwater at Cherbourg. 
The Alabama was much damaged by her 
long voyages, still it might have been pos- 
sible for her to steal out and get aw^y with- 
out risking a fight. Captain Semmes did 
not know that the sides of the Kearsarge 
were protected by a thick defence of iron 
chains so covered by planking as to be hid- 
den from sight. He believed that his vessel, 
though not so large nor so heavily armed as the Kearsarge, 
could safely contend with her in a fair fight, and he sent 
Captain Winslow word to wait until he got some coal for the 
Alabama and she would come out and give him battle. 

Destruction of the Alabama. — On the 19th, accordingl}^, 
the Confederate cruiser steamed out of the harbor, and the 
fight began. To make the combat lawful, the ships were 
obliged to be more than a marine league from the land, but 
they were close enough for the battle to be witnessed by 




J. TATNALL, C. S. N. 



Lincoln's Administration, 1864-. 511 

spectators on shore as well as by the crews of an English 
yacht, Deerhoundy and of two French pilot boats not far off. 
The chain-clad hull of the Kearsarge suffered little injury 
from the shot and shell of the Alabama, the powder of which 
was very defective; while that gallant little cruiser was torn 
to pieces and in a sinking condition after about an hour and 
ten minutes. Finding that his ship was going down, Cap- 
tain Semmes lowered his colors in token of surrender. 
Even after this, the Kearsarge fired five times upon its 
sinking antagonist. The boats could save only a part of 
the crew. The rest jumped into the water before the ship 
sank, and most of them were picked up by the Deerhound 
and the pilot boats. 

Destruction of the Florida. — Not long after the destruc- 
tion of the Alabama, the Florida was captured by a Federal 
war vessel, while she was lying at anchor in the harbor of 
Bahia, a neutral Brazilian port. Mr. Seward apologized for 
the outrage to Brazil, but the Florida was held as a prize and 
was sunk. The Shenandoah was surrendered to the Federal 
government after the close of the war. 

Re-election of Mr. Lincoln, 1864. — This was a presidential 
election year at the North, and party politics ran high. One 
faction of the Republican party thought Mr. Lincoln too 
mild in his dealings towards the Southern " rebels " and too 
slow in abolishing slavery. This faction nominated John C. 
Fremont as its candidate for the Presidency, while the Re- 
publicans opposed to them renominated Abraham Lincoln. 
All this time, there had been great differences of opinion 
with regard to the war among the Northern Democrats. 
But even those known as '' War Democrats," could not ap- 
prove of the arbitrary and unconstitutional measures by 
which the Government carried it on. The Peace Demo- 
crats — or " copper-heads " as their enemies termed them— 
gained great strength, by the Confederate success which had 
occurred early in the year, by General Grant's inability 
to destroy General Lee's army and seize Richmond, and by 
the enormous drafts of men and money called for to carry 
on the struggle. Their convention which met in Chicago 
in August, nominated General McClellan, after having de- 
nounced the measures of the Government as unconstitu- 
tional, having declared the war a failure, and having urged 



512 



History of the United States. 




that hostilites should cease and negotiations for peace be 
immediately begun. McClellan, in accepting the nomina- 
tion, said emphatically 
that the war was not a 
failure. Sherman's cap- 
ture of Atlanta and Far- 
ragut's success in Mobile 
Bay contradicted the as- 
sertion of failure and 
strengthened the attach- 
ment of the Northern 
people to the Govern- 
ment. Fremont with- 
drew from the contest 
and Mr. Lincoln was re- 
elected by an enormous 
majority. 

Peace Negotiations. — 
Some informal and un- 
official efforts had been 
made by a few prominent 
Southerners, in July, 
when the Northern mind was depressed, to pave the way for 
negotiations for peace between the contending sections. To 
these, Mr. Lincoln signified that no negotiations for peace 
would be entertained which did not include the restoration 
of the Union and the abandonment of slavery. The South- 
ern men had no authority to settle anything. The Federal 
successes now raised the spirits of the North, and the whole 
effort came to nothing. 

Condition of the Confederacy. — The close of 1864 found 
the Southern Confederacy in desperate straits. Most of her 
territory was cut to pieces and overrun by her enemies. She 
was at the end of her resources. Her money was worthless. 
What soldiers she still had in the field were half naked and 
half starved, while the people at home were little better off. 
There were no means of repairing the railroads so inces- 
santly and thoroughly broken up by Sherman, Sheridan, 
and other Federal generals, and so it was impossible to 
bring men and food to important points, even if they could 
have been collected. But the constant slaughter of bat- 



J. C. FREMONT, U. S. A. 




Lincoln's Administration, 1864-. 513 

tie, the detention of thousands of her bravest and best in 
Northern prisons, and the loss of life from sickness and ex- 
posure, had killed or disabled the majority of the white men 
in the South. Taking off the horses and 
mules for army purposes, and the absence 
of the farmers and planters from their 
homes, added to the devastation of in- 
vading armies, prevented the proper culti- 
vation of the soil, and famine bade fair to 
destroy what the sword had left. The Fede- 
ral power, on the other hand, had gained 

1 T . .1 , T l^ m H. 1>. CLAYTON, ALA. 

immensely during the twelve months. Ten- 
nessee, Missouri, and most of Mississippi and Alabama had 
been seized; Georgia and the Valley of Virginia were laid 
waste; Hood's and Early's and Price's armies had been 
beaten and broken up. The only formidable force still to 
be overcome was in the trenches at Petersburg, and Grant 
and Sherman were preparing to bring 200,000 men to crush 
it. It was plain to any observant eye that the end of the 
contest could not be far off. 

AUTHORITIES.— Draper's History of the Civil War; Ridpath's History of the United 
States; Grant's Personal Memoirs; Official Reports and Correspondence in Govern- 
ment War Records; Sherman's Memoir; Stephens's History of the United States; f itz- 
hugh Lee's Memoir of Robert E.Lee; Taylor's Four Years vrith Lee; Raymond's 
Life of Lincoln ; Memoir of General Pendleton; Semmes's Service Afloat; Battles and 
Leaders of the Civil War; Davis's Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government; Pol- 
lard's Lost Cause; Appleton's Annual Cyclopedia; Newspapersof the Period. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. Describe Sherman's march to the sea. 2. The work of 
the "bummers." 3. Who has given us this description? 4. What hap- 
pened as the army neared Savannah ? 5. What caused the fall of Savannah ? 
(i. What was Sherman's message to Mr. Lincoln ? 7. Tell of the devasta- 
tion in Georgia made by the army of Sherman. 8. What of Price in Mis- 
souri ? 9. Tell of Morgan's last raid and death. 10. What was the Alabama ? 
11. Tell of her battle with the Kearsarge. 12. Of the destruction of the 
Alabama a.nd.t\xe Florida. 13. Who was elected President in 1804 ? 14. Tell 
of the peace negotiations. 15. What was now the condition of the Confede- 
racy? 



33 



CHAPTER LXXXII. 

LINCOLN'S ADMINISTRATION, CONTINUED.— 1865. 

Condition of Petersburg.- — The extreme severity of the 
weather kept both armies at Petersburg comparatively quiet, 
during the opening weeks of the year. The intense cold 
added to the sufferings of the soldiers. Water was scarcely 
to be gotten anywhere. The difficulty of procuring fuel 
was far greater for Lee's army. On more than one occasion, 
a Southern soldier was found frozen dead at his post Only 
the artillery firing continued almost uninterrupted, and 
parts of Petersburg were so riddled v/ith shot and shell as 
to be uninhabitable. The people became strangely accus- 
tomed to their danger, and timid women walked about the 
streets or drove from place to place within the Confederate 
lines, undeterred by the thunder of cannon or the shriek of 
shells v/hizzing above their heads. 

Butler at Fort Fisher. — The hard winter did not, however, 
prevent active operations elsewhere. In December, Gene- 
ral Grant had sent an expedition under 
General Butler to capture Fort Fisher, 
which had accomplished nothing. Wil- 
mington was the only port left open to the 
Confederate blockade runners, and Fort 
Fisher, on the peninsula between the 
mouth of Cape Fear River and the ocean, 
was its main defence. European powers 
had threatened to disregard the blockade 
entirely, unless the Washington Government could enforce 
it in North Carolina; and, therefore, it seemed doubly ne- 
cessary to capture Fort Fisher. It had been agreed between 
Grant and Sherman that the latter should march northward 
from Savannah to A^irginia, laying the Carolinas waste as 
he went. But Grant determined to reduce Fort Fisher 
before any of Sherman's force approached it. 

Terry Against Fort Fisher. — On January 6th, another ex- 
pedition, commanded by General Terry, was sent from 
Fortress Monroe against Fort Fisher. Admiral Porter's 
fleet of 59 vessels, five of them ironclads, was to co-operate 

[514] 




B.r. CHEATHAM, TENN. 



Lincoln's Administration, 1865. 515 

with the infantry force — about 20,000 strong. General Bragg 
was ordered to take charge of the defences at Wilmington. 
He had been so unsuccessful in his former commands, that 
the country felt little confidence in his ability, although his 
bravery was undoubted. One of the Richmond papers gave 
voice to the general sentiment by announcing, " General 
Bragg has been appointed to command at Wilmington. 
Good-bye, Wilmington." This foreboding was soon to be 
justified, though it is questionable whether any military 
skill could have held the fort against the enormous odds 
brought to capture it. 

Capture of Fort Fisher. — On January 15th, after a bom- 
bardment of three days, an attack was made by the fleet 
and the land forces. The vessels, ranging in a curved line 
from a half mile to a mile and a half from the fort, opened 
a concentric fire from their 413 guns. Such a storm of shot 
and shell has scarcely ever been equalled. The walls of the 
fort were much injured, some of the cannon were dis- 
mounted, powder exploded, and the interior was made so 
hot by the incessant shower of missiles that the moB could 
not stand to their guns. A first assault of 
the infantry was repulsed with severe loss, 
and after the outer works had been car- 
ried, a fierce struggle went on within the 
inner defences. Notwithstanding the greatly 
outnumbering force of the assailants and 
the stunning and exhausting effect of the 
prolonged cannonade, the garrison of 2,500 

1 , 1 1 , 1 1 f» 1 , , -1 W. H.C. WHITING, MISS. 

men kept up a hand-to-hand right until 
after midnight. General Whiting was mortally wounded ; 
Colonel Lamb, commanding the fort, was entirely disabled. 
Further resistance was hopeless, and the general surren- 
dered himself and some 1,800 men. The rest of his heroic 
command had been killed or wounded. The Federal loss 
was nearly 700. After the fall of Fort Fisher, the lesser 
defences of Wilmington had to be abandoned, and Federal 
troops occupied the town. 

Sherman's March from the Sea. — General Sherman left 
Savannah on February 1st, with 60,000 infantry, 5,000 
cavalry, and a large artillery force. To oppose these, the 
Confederates had an inconsiderable army, part of them the 




516 



History of the United States. 




remnant of Hood's force brought from Mississippi, part the 
men with whom Hardee had evacuated Savannah, and part 
the militia of the State. Wheeler's cavalry obstructed the 
roads and destroyed the bridges, but 
could do nothing to check materially 
the oncoming hosts. South Carolina was 
not fertile enough to furnish supplies for 
the army as Georgia had done, but every- 
thing in it was dedicated to plunder and 
destruction. There had been some slight 
attempts to restrain outrages upon the 
people and their property in Georgia. 
These ceased in South Carolina. Gen- 
— — — * eral Sherman himself said that he saw 

JOSEPH WHEELER, ALA. ^^^ f^^^ <.J^^|^ ^^ ^^g j^q^ poSSiblO tO TC- 

strain the soldiers, as had been done in Georgia. 

Destruction in South Carolina. — All that the armies had 
done in Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia, and even in the 
Valley of Virginia, was merciful, compared to the outrages 
perpetrated in South Carolina. The course of the invading 
army could be marked afar off by the wide spreading col- 
umns of smoke which rose wherever it went. Dwelling houses, 
granaries, negro cabins, resin factories, the 
pine forests themselves, were all set on fire. 
The sun was obscured by clouds of smoke 
and the night made light by the wide- 
spread conflagration. Before burning, the 
houses were rifled of their contents. What 
took the fancy of the thieves was carried off, 
the rest was destroyed. Costly furniture and 
pianos were hewn to pieces; rich carpets, 
curtains, and libraries were dragged through the dust and 
mud, or scattered to the winds. Plate, watches, jewelry, and 
clothing were taken; rings and ear-rings were torn from the 
fingers and ears of the helpless, terrified women. Resist- 
ance and remonstrance were met with oaths and threats of 
still worse treatment. Old men were tortured to make them 
tell where money or silver was hidden. The negroes were 
plundered as quickly as the whites. The gardens were dug 
up with bayonets to probe for concealed treasures. One 
party followed another, until the defenceless people were 




M. W. GAKY, S. C. 



Lincoln's Administration, 1865. 517 

left without shelter or food. And these things were seen 
not only without hindrance by the officers, but were con- 
sidered as "comical." One of General Sherman's aides, after 
describing the scenes of plunder, said, "It was all fair spoil 
in war, and the search made one of the excitements of the 
march." When Sherman's army marched in triumph 
through the streets of Washington some months later, a 
special feature of the procession was the " bummers " and 
their mules laden with stolen goods. 

Fall of Charleston. — For a time it could not be told whe- 
ther Sherman would march for Charleston or Augusta 
where the largest powder mills in the South and other im- 
portant factories were situated, and detachments of troops 
were sent for the defence of each city. Instead of turning 
aside to either, he moved directly for Columbia, the capital 
of the State. This move made it necessary for Hardee to 
evacuate Charleston, which he did on February 17th. Be- 
fore leaving, he burned the cotton warehouses and arsenals 
and destroyed other public property. An accidental explo- 
sion of a large quantity of powder killed several hundred 
people, and kindled a conflagration which consumed a con- 
siderable portion of the city and threatened the destruction 
of the whole of it. When General Gilmore took possession 
of Charleston, on the 21st, he found its beauty gone and its 
once fair streets scarred and mutilated. For four years, it 
had made a heroic defence, and it bore in every part of it 
the marks of the shot and shell which had riddled the 
houses, or of the flames which had consumed them. 

Burning of Columbia. — The Federal army reached Colum- 
bia on the 17th of February. The small Confederate force 
had withdrawn, and the mayor surrendered the place. Gen- 
eral Sherman promised that only public property should be 
injured, and that not a finger's breadth of the town should 
be burned. But the promise was not kept, for the soldiers 
began their accustomed work of pillage and destruction, as 
soon as they entered the streets. The stores were broken open 
and sacked, private houses were entered with demands for 
food which was at once taken. Watches were snatched from 
the pockets and rings from the fingers of their owners. In- 
sults and indignities of every kind were heaped upon the 
citizens, especially upon the women, and as a climax to all. 



518 



History of the United States. 



the town was burned, if not actually by the order of Gene- 
ral Sherman, certainly without hindrance from him. The 
flames broke out in twenty places at once, and spread rap- 
idly from street to street. AVhen the fire engines came to 
do what was possible to check the fire, the soldiers cut the 
hose and rendered them useless. The Roman Catholic Con- 
vent shared the fate of the city, although a special protec- 
tion had been promised it, and the terrified nuns and their 
sixty pupils had to spend the night in the open park, not 
knowing where they could find another shelter. When 
morning came, the most beautiful part of Columbia was a 
heap of smoking ruins. Churches/banks, srlmols, private 




DKBTBUCTION OF COLUMBIA. 



residences, and shops had disappeared; only their chim- 
neys remained standing; and homeless people, with such 
small remnants of their possessions as they had saved from 
theft and burning, were huddled in groups in the streets 
and gardens, gazing hopelessly at the ruin everywhere 
around them. 

Sherman's Charge Against Hampton. — General Sherman 
tried to throw the blame of this cruel conflagration on Gen- 
eral Hampton, by saying that Hampton had set fire to cot- 
ton bales in the streets before evacuating the town. This 
General Hampton denied, and hundreds of citizens bore 
witness that it was only after the entrance of Sherman's men 
that any fires broke out, and that they prevented any efforts 



Lincoln's Administration, 1865. 



519 




WADE HAMPTON, 



for the extinguishing of the flames. All were not equally 

inhuman, and some of the officers and men showed sympathy 

- for the frightened and helpless peo- 

j ' pie, assisting them to move their 

household goods, and extending 
little kindnesses to them. Even with 
these alleviations, the picture is 
black and shocking enough. In his 
Memoir, General Sherman declares 
that the fire was " accidental," and 
that he charged it on Hampton to 
" shake the faith of the South Caro- 
linians in him." 

Peace Conference. — Napoleon III. 
of France had, in 1863, interfered 
in the aff"airs of Mexico. He went so 
far as to persuade the Archduke Maximilian of Austria to be 
made the Emperor of Mexico, and gave him a French army 
to put down opposition. This bringing of European forms of 
government and a European sove- 
reign into America was entirely con- 
trary to the. Monroe Doctrine. Many 
people thought that by uniting on 
that ground, to expel the French 
from Mexico, a stop might be put to 
the strife between tlie United and 
Confederate States, which would be 
honorable to both parties. On Feb- 
ruary 3d, an informal " Peace Con- 
ference" took place between Presi- 
dent Lincoln and Mr. Seward on one 
side, and Vice-President Stephens, 
Mr. Hunter of Virginia and .Judge 
Campbell of Louisiana on the other. ^* '"• h-*^'''^' ^*- 

Mr. Lincoln would not agree to any armistice, or cessation 
of hostilities, during which some terms of peace might be 
settled. The only conditions on which he would encourage 
any hope for peace were the absolute submission of the South, 
her immediate return to the Union, and the complete aboli- 
tion of slavery. The Southern Commissioners had no defi- 
nite instructions beyond the recognition of the Confede- 




520 History of the United States. 

racy, and so the conference accomplished nothing. The fact 
that no peace honorable to the South could be hoped for, 
aroused the patriotism and zeal of the army and people anew. 
But there were no means of filling up their depleted ranks, 
or of relieving the wants of the starving soldiers in the field 
and their families at home. 

Want and Privation in the South. — It is difficult to under- 
stand how people managed to live. Flour was $300 a bar- 
rel, and in the far South, could not be had at any price. 
Corn meal was $50 a bushel, corn was $40, and oats $25 a 
bushel, peas $40 a bushel. Brown sugar was $15, coffee 
$30, and tea $50 a pound. Sorghum molasses was $35 a 
gallon; butter $30 a pound. Dry goods could scarcely be 
had at any price. Ladies wore their old finery made up 
over and over again, or dressed in homespun cotton, woven 
in hand looms. Hats and bonnets were plaited out of wheat- 
straw or palmetto, and trimmed with flowers and tassels of 
the same materials, or of feathers. Old silk stockings and 
bits of old cloth were made into gloves for the ladies and 
their soldier friends. The same dextrous hands fashioned 
the upper parts of gaiter boots from scraps of homespun 
cloth, or old woolen materials found in garrets; and then 
paid $200 for having them soled. The pay of a general was 
only $301 per month, of other officers proportionately less; 
the soldiers' pay was scarcely anything. At the prices of 
the scanty supplies in the country, it all seemed equally 
worthless. 

Lee Made Commander-in-Chief. — General Lee had been 
made commander-in-chief of the Confederate armies early 
in February, and had issued orders exhorting all the South- 
ern soldiers to be firm and constant in opposing their ene- 
mies, and offering pardon to all deserters who would return 
to their commands. His own men, at this very time, were 
in the trenches, half frozen and half starved, but presenting 
a bold front to their enemies. On February 5th, Lee's posi- 
tion on Hatcher's Run, on his extreme right, was seized by 
the Federal troops. Desperate efforts were made to dislodge 
them, but without success. In this fight the gallant General 
Pegram was killed. 

Lee's Plan to Leave Petersburg. — Meantime, General Sher- 
man was pressing rapidly northward. Beauregard and 




Lincoln's Administration, 1865. 521 

Hardee had done nothing effectual to oppose his progress, 
and General Johnston was again called to take charge of 
the Confederate forces in North Carolina, and check, if 
he could not prevent, his advance. John- 
ston could collect only 18,000 men, while 
Sherman, reinforced by Schofield from Wil- 
mington, had about 70,000. General Lee 
had seen for some time that, if ho remained 
in the trenches at Petersburg, his army must 
gradually be hemmed in by its foes, cut otl' 
from all supplies, and eventually captured. 
If he abandoned his fortified lines and moved 
into tlie open country, Richmond, the Confederate Capital, 
the prize for which the Federal commanders had spent so 
much blood and money, must fall into their hands with its 
important workshops and foundries, and its thousands of 
refugee citizens from all parts of the South. His desire to 
leave Petersburg was, therefore, so distasteful to the authori- 
ties at Richmond that he had been obliged to give it up at an 
earlier period. Now, however, the necessity for such a move 
was becoming imperative; and, if he could move so as to 
join Johnston where together they might strike Sherman 
before Grant could come to his aid, something important 
might be accomplished, and the struggle for Southern inde- 
pendence go on to a hopeful conclusion. 

The Gathering- of the Federal Forces in Virginia. — This 
seemed the best thing possible. The question was discussed 
with President Davis, and it was agreed that supplies should 
be collected at Danville, so that Lee might move rapidly 
thither, join Johnston, and fall upon Sherman. But, worn 
and exhausted as his men and horses were, it was impossi- 
ble for him to make a move, until the weather became less 
severe and the roads more fit for travelling. General Grant 
seemed to divine his adversary's intention to give him the 
slip, and made his plans to render such a move impossible. 
Coming from the Valley, Sheridan joined him with 12,000 
cavalry, having destroyed the railroads and laid waste 
the country as he came. Thomas was directed to move into 
southwestern Virginia and destro}^ the railroads in that di- 
rection. Sherman, as we have seen, was moving towards 
Petersburg, and Grant gave orders for another sweep around 




J. U. GOEDON, GA. 



622 History of the United States. 

Lee's right by the Federal infantry and cavalry on March 
29th. 

Assault on Fort Steadman. — The massing of troops in that 
direction weakened the Federal lines at one point. This 
Lee perceived, and made arrangements for an attack there 
before day, on the morning of March 
25th. The hostile lines were onl}^ 200 
yards apart and the pickets close 
enough to talk with each other. Gene- 
ral Gordon, who commanded the haz- 
ardous assault, succeeded in capturing 
Fort Steadman on Hare's Hill, and he 
pressed forward with some 4,000 men, 
hoping to seize the farther line of for- 
tifications, and thus to cut Grant's line 
in two, get into his rear, and turn the 
Federal guns upon their own trenches. 
But the guides, either through igno- 
rance'or treachery, failed to lead the way where a successful 
attack might have been made; the supporting column did 
not come up promptly, the Federal guns were quickly 
turned upon the attacking force, and Gordon was compelled 
to retire, having lost more than 3,000 killed, wounded, and 
prisoners. The Federal loss was 2,000. 

Comparison of the Forces. — The Confederate lines were 
now about thirty-seven miles long. To watch and defend 
these long fortifications, Lee had only some 35,000 men^ not 
1,000 to a mile, and these were being constantly lessened by 
battle, starvation, and exposure. Grant had more than 
120,000; more than three to one of his enemies. With this 
great host, he could keep his trenches well defended, and 
throw a force equal to Lee's whole army upon the Southern 
flank and rear; and this he proceeded to do. 

Sheridan's Victory at Five Forks. — Sheridan, with his cav- 
alry and two corps of infantry, was directed to move to the 
left, to occupy the country west of Petersburg, and to de- 
stroy the Southside and Danville railroads. To prevent the 
severing of his only communications with the South, Lee 
sent his cavalry under Fitzhugh Lee and an infantry force 
under Pickett, to check Sheridan's progress, while he him- 
self, with 17,000 men, all that he could spare from the forti- 



Lincoln's Administration, ISO.S. 



;23 




KITZHUGH LEE, VA. 



fications, passed rapidly to the Federal left on the 31st, and 
boldly struck their advancing column on the flank. The 
foremost divisions gave way under his sud- 
den and heavy attack, but the greatly supe- 
rior number of the men behind them, massed 
in a strong position, made it impossible for 
the Confederate leader to assault them suc- 
cessfully, and he had to fall back again to 
his trenches. On the same day, Fitzhugh 
Lee attacked Sheridan near Five Forks, and 
drove him some distance with considerable 
loss. Sheridan was reinforced by two infantry corps, the 
next day, and, in his turn, assailed the Confederates at Five 
Forks, and defeated them, causing them the loss of about 
3,500 men, and some of their artillery and colors. It was 
the beginning of the end. 

Attack on Petersburg. — When Grant, after nightfall, 
learned of Sheridan's success, he ordered an attack to be 
made all along the lines at daybreak the 
next morning, April 2d. Longstreet, who 
was still on the north side of the James, 
was ordered to join Lee at Petersburg with 
all speed, but he did not get up in time to 
assist in holding the trenches. The thin 
line of defenders, though fighting bravely, 
was driven out by the overwhelming assault 
of the enemy, and fell back behind the inner 
line of breastworks where the guns from Fort Alexander and 
Fort Gregg checked the Federal pursuit. In this struggle. 
General A. P. Hill, one of the corps commanders, was killed. 
Evacuation of Petersburg- and. Richmond. — To hold Peters- 
burg was an impossibility. The only thing was to withdraw 
the army, if possible, to some point where it could be fed 
and rested and could avoid capture. It was Sunday morn- 
ing. Mr. Davis was in his pew in St. Paul's Church, Rich- 
mond, when he received a telegram from General Lee tell- 
ing him that Petersburg must be evacuated that night. He 
rose and left the church. Immediate steps were taken to 
remove the Government papers and such property as could 
be taken. The Government officials left the city, and all 
the soldiers north of the James were ordered to cross the 




A A HUMPHREYS, U S A. 



524 History of the United States. 

river and join Lee. The suddenness of the crisis and the 
scarcity of transportation made it very difficult to get things 
out of the city, and vehicles of every sort were piled with 
boxes from the Departments, and driven to the depots. 

Distress and Riot in Richmond. — The news that they must 
be abandoned by the army which for three years had in- 
sured their safety, spread rapidly, and filled the hearts of 
the people in Richmond with anguish. The streets were 
full of anxious women who saw with despair all the men, 
who could bear arms, hurrying away to escape capture. 
It was rumored that, when no more of the Government sup- 
plies could be carried away, the remainder would be dis- 
tributed to the people, and crowds collected round the Com- 
missary stores. In the emergency, the City Council gave 
orders to destroy all the liquor in the place, that idlers, 
stragglers, and negroes, as well as the expected Federal 
soldiers, might have no means of getting drunk and in- 
creasing the disorder of the day. Committees of citizens 
lent their aid to roll the barrels of whiskey into the streets 
and knock in their heads. The gutters were soon filled with 
spirit, the fumes of which filled the air. Straggling soldiers 
and the mob which had collected got hold of the liquor, and 
soon all law and order were at an end. Stores were broken 
open and pillaged, and the streets rang with yells and shouts 
of drunken men and women, and the cries of others in terror 
and distress. 

Fire. — Fire added to the horrors of the night. General 
Ewell, before leaving the city, caused the tobacco ware- 
houses standing in the southern part of the city to be set on 
fire, so that the stored tobacco might not be captured. 
When the last soldier had crossed the river, the three great 
bridges were also burned, as were the vessels in the river. 
Unfortunately, the fire from the tobacco warehouses spread 
to the adjacent buildings. There were no means of extin- 
guishing it, and soon the whole business part of the city 
was wrapped in flames. Through Sunday night and all day 
Monday, the fire burned, and the riotous, pillaging mob 
took advantage of it to continue their uproar and thieving. 
So great was the confusion, that a detachment of 40 Massa- 
chusetts cavalry sent by General Weitzel, commanding the 
Federal troops below Richmond, to ascertain how things 



Lincoln's Administration, 1865. 525 

were going, rode unmolested into the heart of the city and 
planted their colors in the Capitol Square. A few hours 
afterward Weitzel's whole command marched in, and Rich- 
mond was in the hands of her captors. 

Mr. Lincoln's Visit to Petersburg and Richmond. — At Pe- 
tersburg, there were no similar horrors, only the dull agony 
of despair, as General Grant and his soldiers moved into the 
battle-torn little town. Mr. Lincoln was at City Point and he 
immediately came to Petersburg and then to Richmond, 
where he visited with especial curiosity the house which 
President Davis had occupied, and seemed to take pleasure 
in sitting down in Mr. Davis's chair. 

Exultation at the North. — The fall of Richmond, full of 
disappointment and sorrow to the South, occasioned a wild 
delirium of joy at the North. As the telegraph spread the 
news from city to city, bells were rung, cannon fired, the 
people swarmed to the public squares with huzzas of exulta- 
tion, hymns and doxologies were chanted in the streets, and 
United States flags hung from every house and vehicle. 

AUTHORITIES.— Draper's History of the Civil War ; Ridpath'g History of the United 
States ; Grant's Personal Memoirs ; Official Reports and Correspondence In Government 
War Records; Sherman's Memoir ; Stephens's History of the United States ; Fitzhugh 
Lee's Memoir of Robert E. Lee ; Taylor's Four Years with Lee ; Raymond's Life of Lin- 
coln ; Memoir of General Pendleton ; Semmes'S Service Afloat ; Battles and Leaders of 
the Civil War; Davis's Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government; Pollard's Lost 
Cause; Appleton's Annual Cyclopedia; Newspapers of the Period ; Memoir of Jeffer- 
son Davis, by his widow; Humphrey's Virginia Campaigns. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. AVhat was the condition of Petersburg? 2. Tell of Gen- 
eral Butler's attack on Fort Fisher. 3. Of Bragg at Fort Fisher. 4. Of its 
capture. 5. Relate Sherman's march from the sea through South Carolina. 
6. Who opposed him ? 7. Tell of the wanton destruction in South Carolina. 
8. Of the fall of Charleston. 9. Of the burning of Columbia. 10. What was 
Sherman's charge against Hampton? 11. Tell of the affairs in Mexico and of 
the " Peace Conference." 12. Describe the want and privation in the South. 
13. What was the condition of the army ? 14. What plan did Lee form ? 
15. What did Grant do in anticipation of Lee's movements ? 16. Describe the 
assault on Fort Steadman. 17. How did the forces of the two armies com- 
pare ? 18. Tell of the battle at Five Forks. 19. Of the attack on Peters- 
burg. 20. What was its result as to both Petersburg and Richmond ? 21. De- 
scribe the condition of affairs in Richmond. 22. The fire there. 23. Mr. Lin- 
coln's visit. 



CHAPTER LXXXIII. 



LINCOLN'S ADMINISTRATION, CONTINUED.— 1865. 

Lee's Retreat. — During the night of April 2d, Lee's army 
was quietly withdrawn from the trenches at Petersburg, and 
moved to the north side of the Appomattox River. The 
crossing was safely accomplished, and almost all the field 
artillery was brought away. The route of retreat was to 
Amelia Court House, where Lee had ordered provisions for 
his men and forage for his horses to be in readiness. The 
relief of getting away from the confined, dangerous trenches, 
and of being in the open country, fresh and green with the 
verdure of spring, was such, that for a time the men and 



/ — --. CONFE 

"— Federal advance 

KOADS 



,eaAP-9th 




FBOM PETBESBURQ TO APPOMATTOX. 



officers were in good spirits and moved rapidly. They had 
repeatedly fallen back before a superior enemy only to 
strike him a telling blow on the first good opportunity. 
They had unbounded confidence in their commander, and 
they were buoyed up by the hope of finding food at Amelia 
Court House. The roads were deep in mud; the long wagon 
trains, drawn by jaded teams, hindered the progress of the 
columns; and when Amelia Court House was reached, on 
the morning of the 4th, there were no supplies there. 

Delay at Amelia Court House. — Through some strange 
neglect of orders, the food, which General Lee had directed 

[526] 



Lincoln's Administration , 1865. 



527 




J.H. LANE, N.C. 



should be brought from Danville, had been carried on to 
Richmond, to be destroyed or to fall into the hands of the 
rioters. It was a dire disappointment. Men and horses 
were starving. For nearly two days and nights, they had 
had no rest. The scanty rations brought from Petersburg 
had been consuxned, and further progress was impossible, 
until they were in some way rested and fed. Foraging 
parties were sent out at once, to collect whatever the coun- 
try round could supply, and twenty-four hours were con- 
sumed in this hunt for subsistence. The delay was fatal. 

Grant in Pursuit. — As soon as General Grant learned that 
Lee's army was in retreat, he ordered his 
army forward in pursuit. A confidential 
dispatch telling of Lee's plans had been cap- 
tured in Richmond, so that the Federal gen- 
eral knew exactly where to go to foil them. 
His army moved in two columns, on the 
roads parallel to the line of retreat, though 
south of the Appomattox, and pressed on 
rapidly so as to get possession of the rail- 
road and cut Lee off from Danville. The delay at Amelia 
Court House rendered this speedily practicable. 

Attack at Sailor's Creek. — When the retreat was resumed, 
on the evening of the 5th, hunger, weariness, and disappoint- 
ment had lessened the spirit of the 20,000 soldiers remain- 
ing to the Army of Northern Virginia. A little parched 
corn was all they had to sustain life, and scores of them 
sank exhausted by the wayside. Sheridan, with 18,000 
men, struck the railroad at Jetersville, only seven miles 
from Amelia Court House, while Lee was still there, and 
intrenched himself to wait for Meade to 
come up. On the 6th, there was not 
only skirmishing in front and on the flank 
of the retreat, but the rear half of Lee's 
army, under Ewell's command, was at- 
tacked at Sailor's Creek, by a greatly out- 
numbering force; the weary, exhausted 
corps were surrounded, and, with the ex- 
ception of 250 men, all of the 10,000 were 
either killed, wounded, or captured. Lee, in person, tried to 
avert this disaster, and when he returned to his other troops, 




J. L. HOGG, TEXAS. 



528 



History of the United States. 



he told one of his officers, " That half of our army is destroyed." 
It was hopeless to move towards Danville, and Lee, with the 
forces remaining to him, pressed on westward in the direc- 
tion of Lynchburg. Some of the caissons had been destroyed 
at Amelia Court House, and a large part of the artillery was 
sent by a road farther to the west, so that the army could 
move more rapidly. The marching had to be mostly at 
night, because the days were taken up in skirmishes, and in 
forming in line of battle to protect the guns and wagon trains. 
At Farmville. — On the morning of the 7th, the retreating 
army reached Farmville, and here, for the first time since 
leaving Petersburg, they found a good supply of provisions, 
and were able to satisfy their hunger. To reach Amelia 
Court House they had crossed to the south side of the Ap- 
pomattox. At Farmville they had to re-cross to the north 
side, and they burned the bridges to check the pursuit of 
their enemies. By this time, Lee's principal officers felt 
certain that further resistance was hopeless, and could pro- 
duce nothing but a useless loss of life. This opinion was 

conveyed to General Lee 
by his chief of artillery. 
But the Confederate com- 
mander could not yet be- 
lieve that their cause 
was so desperate, and 
declared that death was 
preferable to uncondi- 
tional surrender. 

At Appomattox, April 
8, 1865. — Lee had some 
hope that he might reach 
Appomattox Court 
House and obtain sup- 
plies there, and then 
push on behind the 
Staunton River, where 
he could maintain his 
position until he could 
unite with Johnston; 
and he pressed on all day during the 8th of April. But 
the Federal army, strong, well fed, and possessing ample 




J. T. MOKGAN, ALA. 



Lincoln's Administration, 1865. 529 

transportation, having seized the railroad, moved faster than 
he did. The Confederates reached the neighborhood of Ap- 
pomattox Court House, on the evening of the 8th. But Sheri- 
dan's cavalry got there first, captured the trains with Lee's 
supplies, and obstructed his advance. By the morning 
of the 9th, there were more than 40,000 Federal sol- 
diers in front, and 25,000 directly behind Lee's 10,000 
men. A spirited attack by Gordon and Fitz Lee who led 
the retreat, drove back the Federals immediately in their 
front, but such hosts appeared behind the skirmish lines, 
that, unless reinforcements could be brought up, further 
resistance was useless. 

First Steps Towards Surrender. — General Grant had, on 
the night of the 7th, sent a note to General Lee asking for 
his surrender. Lee, in reply, inquired the terms which 
General Grant would offer. General Grant informed him 
that the only condition he should insist upon would be, that 
the officers and men surrendered should not take up arms 
against the United States until properly exchanged. He 
also offered to meet General Lee at any time, with a view to 
putting an end to the fighting. To this, Lee responded 
that he did not think the time for such surrender had yet 
come. On the morning of the 9th, however, when he found 
it impossible for his gallant little band to cut its way 
through and escape from the toils with which the Northern 
army had surrounded it, he saw what his duty to his sol- 
diers demanded, and sent a flag of truce to General Grant, 
asking for an interview. It was the first move of surrender, 
and the war in Virginia was ended from that moment. 

Meeting of Grant and Lee, April 9, 1865. — The meeting 
between the two commanders took place at the house of Mr. 
Wilmer McLean in the village of Appomattox Court House. 
Grant was attended by Generals Sheridan and Ord and by 
some of his staff, Lee only by his aide. Colonel Marshall, 
and a courier. The contrast between the two men was 
striking. Grant was at the time forty-two years old. He 
was a man of medium height, not imposing in appearance; 
he was dressed in dark blue flannel, with his trousers tucked 
in his boots; he had neither sword nor spurs, and bore no 
marks of his rank except a general's shoulder straps. Lee 
was fifty-eight years old, six feet tall, with hair and beard 
34 



530 



History of the United States. 



silvery gray. He was at all times a remarkably fine-looking 
man. He wore a uniform of Confederate grey, with the three 
stars of a general on the collar, cavalry boots with handsome 
spurs, and from his belt hung a splendid sword presented 
to him two years before by a Marylander. It seemed as if 
he wished to do all the honor he could, in this supreme mo- 
ment, to the cause and the army he represented. 

The Terms of Surrender. — Without delay, the terms of 
surrender were submitted to writing. The men and officers 
were to be paroled on a pledge not to take up arms again 
until properly exchanged. The officers were to retain their 
side-arms, private horses, and baggage; and all other prop- 
erty and arms were to be turned over to Federal officers; 




M'LEAN HOUSE. 



after which the army would be disbanded and allowed to re- 
turn home. General Lee told General Grant that the cav- 
alry and artillery horses in his army almost all belonged to 
private individuals, and asked if their owners would be per- 
mitted to retain them. To this General Grant assented, 
saying that he supposed most of the men were farmers who 
would need their horses to raise food for their families. The 
articles were then signed by both commanders. The story 
that Lee handed his sword to Grant, who returned it to him 



Lincoln's Administration, 1865. 



531 



is without foundation. General Grant declared that the 
sword was not thought of nor mentioned. Before taking 
leave, General Lee said he had more than 1,000 Federal 
prisoners whom he would be glad to send back as he had no 
food for them, and added that his own men had been living 
for days on parched corn. General Grant asked how many 
rations would be sufficient to relieve his wants, and gave 
him an order for 25,000, to be taken from the supply trains 
which Sheridan had captured. This done, the commanders 
separated; and the particulars of the surrender were ar- 
ranged by three officers from each army, Generals Gibbon, 
Griffin, and Merritt on the Federal side, Longstreet, Gordon, 
and Pendleton for the Confederates. 







LEE LEAVING APPOMATTOX. 



Departure of Lee and Grant. — By the time General Lee 
returned to his troops, they had learned the truth of their 
surrender. To most of them it brought an anguish like 
death, and, as they crowded around their beloved leader to 
touch him or his horse, the strongest and bravest wept 
like women. Tears flowed freely down Lee's face, as in a 
broken voice, he bade adieu to them. The next day, April 
10th, he issued a brief parting address to his army, rode 



532 History of the United States. 

through their weeping ranks with his head uncovered, and 
set out for Richmond to join his family. General Grant 
showed much magnanimity towards General Lee and his 
army. As at Vicksburg, he allowed no salutes to be fired, 
no joyful playing of bands, and no display of exultation 
over the sad fortunes of his fallen foes. After arranging that 
the details should be carried out quietly and with no outrage 
to the feelings of the brave men who had so often held his 
hosts at bay, he too left Appomattox, and went to Washing- 
ton to stop further conscription and spending of money. 

The Soldiers After the Surrender. — There were surren- 
dered at Appomattox 10,000 men with arms in their hands, 
nearly 8,000 being infantry, the rest cavalry and artillery; 
the broken down men and stragglers without arms brought 
up the number paroled to 28,356 of all arms and vocations. 
It required several days to parole this number, and then, 
in groups and squads or one by one, the depressed and de- 
feated men dispersed to reach their homes as best they 
might. Thousands of them were penniless. Many had 
hundreds of miles to travel without money or means of 
transportation, but there was no rioting or outrage as they 
moved through the land, everywhere desolated and de- 
spoiled, to find their homes in many cases laid waste and 
destroyed. The same constancy and devotion to their 
country which had sustained them amid battle and strife 
unparalleled, nerved them to face courageously this dark 
time of defeat and disappointment, and to do their best to 
retrieve the widespread ruin of their beloved South. 

End of the War — Numbers Engaged. — Universal joy and 
exultation filled the Northern people, when tidings of Lee's 
surrender were received. A salute of 200 guns was fired at 
all Government posts, and every demonstra- 
tion of rejoicing was made all over the North. 
It was looked upon as the end of the war, as 
it really proved to be. In the course of a 
few weeks, Johnston surrendered to Sher- 
man all the Confederate troops east of the 
Mississippi, on the terms made between Lee 
and Grant, and, a little later, Kirby Smith 

sissippi. In round numbers there were about 267,000. 




Lincoln^s Administration, 1865. 533 

When all need for their services was over, more than 
1,200,000 men were mustered out of the Federal service; 
1,000,000 more had lost their lives from battle or disease. 
The Confederate Government, from first to last, had never 
been able to put even as many as 800,000 in the field. 

Mr. Lincoln's Proclamation. — When President Lincoln 
went to Richmond after its evacuation, the question arose 
as to how the conquered people should be treated, where- 
upon Mr. Lincoln exclaimed: " Let 'em up easy, let 'em up 
easy." In his inaugural address delivered two months be- 
fore this time, he had declared that he should act "with 
malice towards none, with charity for all," and in spite of 
his many unconstitutional acts, and his almost reckless 
exercise of power, he was known to be a really kind-hearted 
man, who was likely after the surrender of the Southern 
armies, to deal as kindly as he could with the Southern peo- 
ple. In December, 1863, he had issued a proclamation 
which declared that whenever one-tenth of the voters in any 
one of the seceded States should take the oath of allegiance 
to the United States, and re-establish a State Government, 
such a State should be received again into the Union. Under 
this proclamation, Louisiana and Arkansas had already or- 
ganized governments, and it seemed likely that, as soon as 
it could be arranged, they and the other Southern States 
would, by some such process, be taken again into the Union. 

Assassination of President Lincoln.— -Whatever hope of a 
liberal policy on Mr. Lincoln's part had been entertained, 
was frustrated by his assassination on Good Friday night, 
April 14, 1865. Mr. Lincoln and his wife with several 
friends were in a box at Ford's Theatre in Washington, 
when John Wilkes Booth, an actor by profession, entered 
the box and shot the President in the head. He then struck 
him with a dagger, and shouting '^8ic semper tyrannis," 
sprang on the stage, whence he made his escape to the rear 
of the building, mounted his horse, and rode off. In an in- 
stant, all was confusion in the theatre. Surgeons were sum- 
moned to do what they could for the President, while others 
ran to arrest the murderer. The murdered man was taken 
to a house close by. The ball had entered his brain; he 
never recovered consciousness, and at seven o'clock the next 
morning, breathed his last. At the time of the assassina- 



534 



History of the United States. 



tion of the President, Powell, one of Booth's accomplices, 
entered Secretary Seward's house and went to the room 
where Mr. Seward was confined to his bed with several 
broken bones. Overcoming the resistance of Mr. Seward's 
son, Powell made his way into the chamber and struck seve- 
ral violent blows with a dagger at Mr. Seward, but failed to 
inflict a mortal wound. An alarm was raised, but Powell 
also got away. 

Effect of the Assassination. — Mr. Lincoln's murder excited 
horror throughout the civilized world. At the North, rage 

was mingled with the horror, and 
many believed that the crime was 
instigated and planned by the South- 
ern people. Mr. Stanton, Secretary 
of War, went so far as to charge it 
upon the Southern leaders, and to 
put a price upon the head of Mr. 
Davis and Southern gentlemen in 
Canada, $100,000 for Mr. Davis and 
$25,000 apiece for four other per- 
sons, as having been principally con- 
cerned in it. This was preposterous. 
The character of Jefferson Davis 
should have placed him above sus- 
picion of anything cowardly or cruel; 
and the gentlemen alleged to have acted under his influence 
would have scorned to contrive or assist in so dastardly a 
deed. The closest scrutiny of facts failed to implicate any 
persons in the assassination save Booth himself and the man 
Powell. A lad named Harold and one Atzerott were close 
friends of Booth, but took no part in the killing. They, 
however, and Mrs. Mary Surratt, at whose house in Wash- 
ington, Booth and other parties were accustomed to meet, 
were arrested, imprisoned, and treated with inhuman sever- 
ity; they were tried by a military commission instead of a 
civil court, and at last hanged on July 4, 1865. 

Fate of Booth. — Booth broke his ankle as he sprang on 
the stage from Mr. Lincoln's box, and with pain and diffi- 
culty made his way to the lower part of Maryland and thence 
into Virginia. The boy Harold accompanied him. Pur- 
suit was too eager and vigilant to be eluded. The fugitives 




ROBERT TOOMBS, GA. 



Lincoln's Administration, 1865. 



535 



4^^l 



lf!^-T 



were discovered in a barn and Booth was shot through a 
crevice in the door and killed by Sergeant Corbett. The 
dead body was subjected to indignities unworthy of a civil- 
ized age and people. 

Lincoln's Funeral Honors. — Mr. Lincoln's remains were 
embalmed and carried to Baltimore, Philadelphia, New 
York, Albany, and round by Buffalo, Cleveland, and Chicago 
to his former home in 
Springfield, Illinois. They 
were received with funeral 
honors everywhere, and in 
the larger cities lay in state, 
and were viewed by many 
hundred thousands of peo- 
ple. It was not until the 5th 
of May that they were laid 
to rest in the Cemetery at 
Springfield. 

Mr. Davis After the Sur- 
render. — Before proceeding 
to what is called the " Re- 
construction Period," I must 
tell you of President Davis. 
He left Richmond for Dan- 
ville, sanguine that a junc- 
tion would be effected be- 
tween Lee and Johnston, 
and a successful stand made 
by them. Lee's surrender 
destroyed this hope, and the 
Confederate President determined to go, as fast as possible, 
west of the Mississippi, believing that a stand could be 
made there, long enough at least to secure some favorable 
terms from the United States. He pushed on, therefore, 
through the Carolinas into Georgia. 

His Capture. — On his journey through Georgia, he learned 
that his wife and family, who with a small escort were try- 
ing to reach the Florida coast by another road, were in dan- 
ger from marauders, and he rode a long distance to join and 
protect them. He travelled with them for some days, but 
decided to leave them and hasten west. The night before 




CAPTURE OF MR. DAVIS. 



536 



History of the United States. 







his intended departure, their little camp was surrounded 
by Federal soldiers, and nearly all the party were taken pris- 
oners. Mr. Davis, of course, tried to get to his horse which was 
standing saddled a little way off. In going out of the tent 
he picked up, by mistake, his wife's water-proof cloak instead 
of his own light overcoat, and his wife threw a shawl over 
his shoulder. He was captured before he reached his horse. 
Imprisonment of Mr. Davis. — Vice-President Andrew John- 
son succeeded Mr. Lincoln. The proclamation, accusing 

Mr. Davis of having caused 
President Lincoln's murder, 
and offering $100,000 for 
his capture, had just reached 
Georgia, and the distin- 
guished prisoner was sub- 
jected to insults and ill treat- 
ment hard to bear. He was 
taken at once to Fortress 
Monroe, w^here the vile 
charge against him w^as 
made the pretext for inhu- 
man cruelty. He was con- 
fined in a damp stone cell 
with iron barred windows, 
into which the sun never 
shone; four armed sentinels 
paced up and down day and 
night; and a bright light 
was always kept shining in 
his eyes. Heavy irons were 
chained on his ankles. His 
coarse and miserable food was served in a dirty, disgusting 
manner, and neither knife nor fork w^ere allowed him. He was 
forbidden to have any books or papers to read, or any to- 
bacco, and the clothing allowed him was of the poorest and 
scantiest. All his own possessions were seized. Outsiders 
were allowed to come and gaze at him as at a wild beast in a 
cage. He was never a robust man, and the privations and 
indignities heaped upon him, in addition to the mental an- 
guish occasioned by the downfall of the Confederacy he 
loved so well, and by his anxieties about bis family, brought 



Up: 




ME. DAVIS AT FORTRESS MONROE. 



Lincoln's Administration, 1865. 537 

him to the verge of the grave. Even then, the representa- 
tions and remonstrances of the Federal surgeon who minis- 
tered to him, could scarcely procure the alleviations neces- 
sary to preserve him from death. Dr. Craven's kindness in 
providing his delicate patient with meals likely to be pala- 
table, and in ordering for him a warm overcoat when winter 
came on, subjected the humane surgeon to a severe reprimand, 
and he was forbidden to speak to Mr. Davis except on 
strictly professional subjects. 

Suffered for the Whole South. — The charge of murder was 
seen to be a malignant slander, and the Southern Ex-Presi- 
dent was then accused, with equal want of truth, of being 
the author of all the sufferings of Northern prisoners in 
Southern prisons. The Attorney-General and other emi- 
nent lawyers gave it as their opinion that he could not be 
tried for treason by any competent tribunal, because the 
whole South had participated in the resistance to the Fede- 
ral Government. But the majority of the Northern people 
considered him the arch-traitor, and wished to visit dire 
vengeance on his head. Mr. Lincoln, shortly before his 
death, intimated that he w^ould be very glad if all the South- 
ern leaders could get out of the country before he knew it. 
Mr. Johnson, on the contrary, accused Mr. Davis of horri- 
ble crimes, and would gladly have inflicted the heaviest 
punishment upon him. 

His Later Life. — But wiser men, even among the strongest 
Republicans, saw how unjust and how injurious to their 
party the continued persecution of Mr. Davis was; and, 
after languishing in confinement for two j^ears, he w^as ar- 
raigned for treason and brought to Richmond, Virginia, for 
trial. The trial never came off, and the illustrious and en- 
feebled prisoner was released from confinement on a bail of 
$100,000, for part of which Horace Greeley and Gerrit 
Smith, two of the original Abolitionist party, pledged them- 
selves. Finally, the charges against him were withdrawn, 
and Mr. Davis passed the rest of his life quietly in a South- 
ern home, more beloved and honored by the Southern peo- 
ple in his days of retirement and misfortune, than when 
he was directing the affairs of the short-lived Confederacy. 

Death and Interment of Mr. Davis. — Mr. Davis died in 
New Orleans on December 6, 1889. In May, 1893, his re- 



538 History of the United States. 

mains were removed to Richmond and laid to rest in Holly- 
wood Cemetery. Large crowds assembled to honor his 
memory, at all the stations where the train halted; and a 
grand procession of citizens and old soldiers, several miles 
long, escorted the funeral car through the streets of Rich- 
mond to its final resting place. 

AUTHORITIES.— Draper's History of the Civil War; Ridpath's History of the United 
States; Grant's Personal Memoirs; Official Reports and Correspondence in Govern- 
ment War Records; Sherman's Memoir; Stephens's History of the United States ; Fitz- 
hugh Lee's Memoir of Robert E.Lee; Taylor's Four Years with Lee ; Raymond's Life 
of Lincoln; Memoir of General Pendleton, Semmes's Service Afloat; Battles and 
Leaders of the Civil War, Davis's Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government; 
Pollard s Lost Cause; Appleton's Annual Cyclopedia; Newspapers of the Period; Me- 
moir of Jefferson Davis, by his widow; Dr. Craven's Prison Life of Jefferson Davis; 
Humphreys's Virginia Campaigns. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. When did Lee retreat from Petersburg ? 2. Tell of the 
route. 3. What misfortune occurred at Amelia Court House? 4. Tell of 
Grant's pursuit and the battle at Sailor's Creek. 5. Whithei did Lee now 
turn? 6. Tell of the array at Farmville. 7. At Appomattox, and the attack 
there. 8. What were the first steps toward surrender ? 9. Describe the meet- 
ing of Grant and Lee. 10. What were the terms of surrender and what spirit 
did Grant show ? 11. Tell of the departure of Lee and Grant. 13. What 
was the condition of the soldiers after the surrender ? 13. What was done with 
the armies In North Carolina and west of the Mississippi? 14. Tell of the 
numbers engaged in the war on both sides. 15. What proclamation had Mr. 
Lincoln made at his second inauguration? 16. Tell of the assassination 
of President Lincoln. 17. Its effects. 18. What was the fate of Booth? 
19. Where was Mr. Lincoln buried? 20. What did Mr. Davis do after the 
surrender? 21. Tell of his capture. 22. Of his imprisonment and his suffer- 
ings. 28. Of what was he accused by his enemies ? 24. Tell of his later life. 
25. Of his death and of the honors paid to his memoi-y. 26. Where is he buried ? 



CHAPTER LXXXIV. 

JOHNSON'S ADMINISTRATION. 

Condition of the Country. — Although the Civil War was 
formally over when Lee surrendered at Appomattox, both 
the North and South had been so shaken and upturned by 
the fierce struggle, that real peace and harmony were slow 
to follow the cessation of battle. The great Federal armies 
were quietly disbanded and returned to their homes within a 
few months. The reckless exercise of authority and the ty- 
rannizing over the minority, which had followed the disre^ 
gard of the Constitution and the laws prevalent throughout 
the whole North for four years, were habits not so easily put 
aside. They held sway for years longer, with other evil in- 



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CONFEDERATE GENERALS MARKED BY STATES, UNION BY U. S. A. 



Johnson's Administration. 



539 




A RUINED HOME AFTER THE WAR. 



fluences arising from the rashness and license of war. At 
the South everything was in a state of chaos. The railroads 
were almost disa- 
bled and unfit for 
use. There were 
no mails except to 
the Federal camps. 
There was no money 
and no currency. 
The banks were all 
destroyed. In im- 
mense sections of 
the country the 
lands were laid 
waste, the cattle 
were all killed or 
carried away, t h e 
fences had disappeared, the mills and many of the dwelling- 
houses were burned. There were no manufactories nor or- 
ganized industries left. The whole system of labor was de- 
stroyed. The negroes, who, in the main, had been loyal to 
their masters and faithful to their duties while the war 
lasted, were almost all of them utterly demoralized and for 
a time, at least, rendered worthless by their sudden and vio- 
lent emancipation. That emancipation had also robbed the 
South of $2,000,000,000 worth of property, in addition to 
the immense loss caused by the universal destruction every- 
where seen. 

Courage of the Southerners in Defeat. — When the de- 
feated Southern soldiers returned to their bereaved and deso- 
lated homes, ruin and impoverishment stared them in the 
face. Undismayed by the devastation and discouragements 
of their surroundings, they brought the same brave hearts 
to encounter them which had so often nerved their arms 
against heavy odds on the battle-field. To gather up the 
shattered fragments which remained to them; to exercise 
their abilities for the comfort and support of those who 
lovingly welcomed them home and who rejoiced in their re- 
turn while weeping over their defeat, this became at once 
the first duty, the sole interest of almost each surviving 
Southerner. With the horses left to them by General 



540 History of the United States. 

Grant, men who had commanded thousands, as well as 
those who had served in the ranks, set themselves to 
ploughing and planting, that hunger and want might not 
again torment their wives and children. Others turned 
their hands to whatever offered means of livelihood. As 
draymen, street-car drivers, workmen in the shops, axemen 
in the forests, in every department of labor, the most culti- 
vated and elegant men of the South took hold, with a will, of 
whatever they found to do. 

General Lee a College President. — During the four years 
of war, colleges and schools had languished almost unto 
death. One of the first cares of the Southern States, was to 
revive their educational institutions. General Lee himself 
became a college president, devoting himself to teaching 
and training his young countrymen to become patriotic, 
useful citizens. Around him gathered, as professors and 
students, numbers of those who had followed him to battle 
and who now sought, under his example and guidance, to 
fit themselves for the duties of peace. 

Submission to the Laws of the Union. — To devote them- 
selves thus to the immediate demands of home work was 
all that was left to them; for it soon became evident that the 
political issues of the hour were by no means settled, and 
that they were to have no voice in deciding them. Though 
as firmly convinced as ever that their cause had been just, 
their principles founded on law and right, they acquiesced 
in the fate which had come to them by the arbitrament of 
the sword, and showed themselves determined to abide by 
their paroles and obey the laws of the Government at Wash- 
ington. In that Government itself, there was great uncer- 
tainty as to what those laws were to be. Mr. Lincoln had al- 
ways held that a State could not get out of the Union by 
any process. He had, as we have seen, recognized the pro- 
visional governments of Virginia and Tennessee early in 
the war, and also those of Louisiana and Arkansas, organ- 
ized under his proclamation of amnesty and reconstruction 
issued in December, 1863. Had he lived, he would, no 
doubt, have proceeded at once to organize a provisional 
government for each one of the Southern States. 

Andrew Johnson's Position. — Andrew Johnson held with 
Mr. Lincoln that the States had never been out of the 




W. B. TALIAFERRO, VA 



W. H. F. LEE, VA. 



S. B. MAXKy, TKXA^ 



"\, 




■WM. SMITH, VA. 



J. M. WITHERS, ALA. 



GENERALS OF THE CIVIL WAR. 

CONFEDERATE MARKED BY STATES, UNION BY U. S. A. 



Johnson's Administration. 541 

Union, and that the sole object of the war had been to com- 
pel the seceding States to return to their allegiance to that 
Union. In his horror at Mr. Lincoln's assassination or his 
fear least he, as the only person benefited by it, might be 
suspected of some complicity in the crime, he now broke 
out into abuse of the Southern people, and uttered fierce 
threats against their leaders. By the conditions of the pa- 
roles given by General Grant and other Federal generals, 
the persons and lives of the officers and men who surrendered 
to them, were held in regard. Had it not been for this, it is 
probable that General Lee and others of the most prominent 
and influential Southern officers and statesmen would have 
suffered grievous penalties. 

His Amnesty Proclamation. — Influenced by this feeling, 
Mr. Johnson issued an amnesty proclamation much more 
stringent in its restrictions than Mr. Lincoln's had been. 
He then proceeded to organize provisional governments and 
to order mail facilities and other Federal functions to be set 
to work throughout the South. 

Thirteenth Amendment. — Before Mr. Lincoln's second in- 
auguration, the Congress at Washington had voted the 
Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution, abolishing 
slavery throughout the United States. To make it actually 
a part of the Constitution, it was necessary that three- 
fourths of the States should ratify the amendment. This 
vote could not be secured without the co-operation of the 
Southern States. The provisional governors, therefore, sum- 
moned the legislatures of those States to meet and take ac- 
tion on the amendment. Mr. Johnson's amnesty proclama- 
tion excluded every man who had held office under the Con- 
federate States; who had held the rank of general in their 
army or lieutenant in their navy; who had been educated at 
West Point, or been a member of the United States Con- 
gress, or a governor of a State; and every Confederate citi- 
zen who was worth $20,000. By his directions to the pro- 
visional governors, no member of the excluded classes could 
hold office or be allowed to vote. This narrowed down the 
voters and left out most of the wisest and best men in the 
South. The legislatures elected by the limited number per- 
mitted to vote, acquiesced in the terms prescribed to them. 
They ratified the Thirteenth Amendment which was, in con- 



542 History of the United States. 

sequence, proclaimed the law of the land on the 18th of De- 
cember in this same year — 18G5. 

Laws to Regulate Labor. — Knowing the character of the 
negroes, and dreading the evils which were apt to result 
from their sudden freedom and release from all restraint, 
most of the legislatures enacted strict regulations as to va- 
grants; and also as to contracts for labor, and other rela- 
tions between employers and those employed. In some of 
the States, these regulations were equally applicable to white 
and colored people; in others they were expressly prepared 
for the negroes and mulattoes. AH guaranteed protection to 
the negroes in their rights, but felt bound to extend some 
protection likewise to the whites. 

Committee on Reconstruction Appointed. — They also 
elected members to the next United States Congress. When 
that Congress met, it was evident that the South was to ex- 
pect no toleration at its hands. The names of Southern 
members were omitted from the roll-call, and both houses at 
once appointed a "Joint Committee on Reconstruction," of 
fifteen members, which was to inquire into the condition of 
the Southern States, and report whether any of them were 
entitled to be represented in Congress. 

Difference Between Congress and the President. — The 
Radical Republicans in Congress and out of it, although for 
four years they had declared that no State could get out of 
the Union, and had urged on the war to enforce that opin- 
ion; and although the Thirteenth Amendment had just been 
declared valid by the ratification of the Southern States, 
now averred that those States by their secession had broken 
their relation to the Union; that they were to be looked on 
and treated as conquered provinces. This was contrary to 
President Johnson's views, and a struggle at once began be- 
tween him and Congress. On April 2d, the President is- 
sued a proclamation declaring that the " insurrection " in 
the South was at an end, and the war over; but Congress 
seemed filled with a fiercer animosity towards them than ever. 

Freedmen's Bureau.— -The previous Congress, in its closing 
days, had established the "Freedmen's Bureau," "for the 
relief of freedmen and refugees." Under its care, food, 
clothing, and homes were to be provided by the War Depart- 
ment for the needy negroes. The confiscated or abandoned 



Johnson's Administration. 543 

lands of the white Southerners were to be parcelled out 
among them at the rate of forty acres to each man, if the 
commissioners thought it advisable; and they were to be 
assisted in other ways. This law was to be effective during 
the war, and for one year after its close. But now it was 
not considered forcible enough. The Southern legislatures 
had given great offence by their attempts to control the 
negroes in any way, and a second bill was passed giving 
more authority to the Bureau, and ordering homes, lands, 
food, clothing, schools, and asylums to be provided for the 
negroes, and guaranteeing to them all the privileges allowed 
to the whites. All violations of this bill or offences against 
the colored people, were to be tried and punished by the 
officers of the Bureau, 

Presidential Vetoes. — Mr. Johnson declared this bill to be 
contrary to the Constitution, and promptly vetoed it. The 
"Civil Rights Bill," for conferring rights on the negroes 
equal to those of the whites, and the bill for the admission 
of the State of Colorado were also vetoed by the President, 
on the same ground, that they were unconstitutional and 
ill-advised. By this time, the opposition to the President 
had become so strong that another and stricter " Freedmen's 
Bureau Bill" and both the other bills above named, were 
passed over his veto by more than a two-thirds vote in 
Congress. 

Fourteenth Amendment. — To obviate the Constitutional 
objections to measures which they were resolved to carry 
through, the ultra Republicans now brought in and passed 
a Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution which con- 
tained five separate clauses. The first declared all persons, 
native or naturalized in the United States, citizens thereof, 
and of the States in which they resided, and forbade any 
State to abridge their privileges in any way. The second 
limited the representation of any State according to the 
proportion which the number of those allowed to vote bore 
to the male population over twenty-one years old. The 
third declared that no person should be a member of Con- 
gress, or an elector for President, or hold any office, civil 
or military, under the United States or any State, who, 
after having taken an oath to support the Constitution, had 
participated in the secession movement — "insurrection or 



544 History of the United States. 

rebellion" as it was termed — or had given aid to others 
engaged in such movement. The fourth guaranteed the 
payment of the United States' debt, including pensions and 
bounties, and prohibited any settlement of the Confederate 
debts. The fifth gave Congress power to enforce all the pro- 
visions of the Amendment. 

Reception of the Fourteenth Amendment. — Ratification of 
this amendment was afterwards made a condition for the 
re-admission of the Southern States into the Union. They 
were unwilling to accept it, especially the third clause, and all 
rejected it, except Tennessee. The President has no power to 
veto a constitutional amendment; but Mr. Johnson sent a mes- 
sage to Congress expressing his disapproval of this one, and 
declaring it illegal and invalid, because eleven States of the 
Union were not represented in the body framing it. Even 
in the States known as " loyal," the assent to the provisions 
of the Fourteenth Amendment was slow and unwilling. Its 
whole tenor was so contrary to the free spirit of the original 
Constitution, that it was justly characterized as "revolu- 
tionary." 

Strife between Congress and the President, 1866. — Mr. 
Johnson was not intimidated by the opposition of Congress, 
but he became very much incensed at its proceedings. He 
was a man of violent temper and of little self-control. Du- 
ring the summer, he made a tour through the North and 
West accompanied by General Grant and several members 
of his Cabinet. During this tour, he made undignified and 
violent speeches, in which he denounced Congress as a body 
assuming to represent the whole Union, while it only repre- 
sented a part of it; and spoke of the Radical leaders as 
" Northern dis-unionists," mentioning Thaddeus Stevens, 
Charles Sumner, and Wendell Phillips by name. All this, 
of course, widened the breach between the two branches of 
the Government, and the strife between the President and 
Congress became constantly more bitter. 

Reconstruction Committee, 1866. — From the day that it 
was appointed, the Reconstruction Committee was busy 
making investigations and collecting such information as 
would appear to justify the most severe legislation against 
the Southern States. It summoned and questioned any one 
whose testimony might perhaps make the " disloyalty " of 



Johnson's Administration. 546 

those States more apparent. General Lee and other Southern 
leaders were subjected to strict examination. It was not pos- 
sible that the Southern people, in the midst of all the ruin and 
desolation surrounding them, should love those who, not sat- 
isfied with seeing them defeated, were now endeavoring to 
subjugate and humiliate them; but they had accepted the 
issue of the war in good faith, and had no intention of vio- 
lating the paroles taken at the time when their armies sur- 
rendered. The declarations of such men as General Lee and 
General Grant on these points did not, however, change the 
determination of the Reconstruction Committee. In its first 
report, that committee declared that the Southern States had 
" forfeited all civil and political rights and privileges under 
the Constitution." Tennessee, which had always had a con- 
siderable Union population, was excepted from this proscrip- 
tion, and had been restored to the Union during the sum- 
mer, four days before the adjournment of Congress. 

South Divided Into Military Districts. — The fall elections 
increased the Republican strength of Congress, and it met 
in December more determined than ever to carry out its 
policy against the South, and force a ratification of the 
Fourteenth Amendment. The Reconstruction Act set aside 
the provisional governments instituted by the President as 
having no authority, and divided the South into five mili- 
tary districts to be governed by generals appointed by the 
President. These military governors were entrusted with 
almost absolute power, and were required to take steps for 
a reorganization of the State governments. 

Bills Passed, 1867. — This bill was vetoed by the President, 
as were several others — two of which were framed for the 
purpose of taking from him the powers conferred upon him 
by the Constitution. One forbade his removing any gov- 
ernment official without the consent of the Senate, and an- 
other placed such authority in the hands of the General 
of the Army as to make him superior to the President, 
although the latter is, in the Constitution, declared to be 
the Commander-in-chief of the Army, by virtue of his office. 
Congress passed, over the veto, all these and several other 
obnoxious and arbitrary measures; and then, to prevent 
the President from going contrary to their will, it decided 
to convene the new Congress on the 4th of March, imme- 
35 



546 History of the United States. 

diately at the close of the short session, instead of waiting 
until December, as was customary. 

The "Ironclad Oath." — Shortly after Congress met in 
March, it passed over the President's veto, a stricter and 
more prescriptive Reconstruction Act, defining the powers 
of the military governors and prescribing the modes by 
which new State governments were to be instituted in the 
South. A " test oath," so stringent as to be called the 
" ironclad oath," was to be exacted from every man over 
twenty-one years old. It affirmed that the person taking it 
had never borne arms against the United States, nor given any 
aid or encouragement to those who had done so, and had 
yielded no voluntary allegiance to any authority hostile to 
the Union. All males above twenty-one who took this oath 
might vote; none others were allowed to do so. Not many 
whites in the South of any character and influence could 
truthfully subscribe to this " test," and the elections for 
State conventions and legislatures passed at once into the 
hands of the negroes and the soldiers in the Federal garri- 
sons stationed in many parts of the South. 

Carpet-Baggers and Scalawags. — As soon as this Act be- 
came a law, a crowd of lawless unprincipled adventurers 
from the North swarmed down into the Southern States for 
the purpose of plunder and self-aggrandizement. Upon 
these, the epithet " carpet-bagger " was at once bestowed, 
and that of "scalawag" upon the native whites who en- 
tered into friendship and alliance with them. Pretending 
great love and sympathy for the negroes, the " carpet-bag- 
gers " soon worked themselves into the most important and 
best paying places in the " Reconstructed " Southern States. 
Some of these men were low camp followers — the dregs of 
the Federal Army; some were fugitives from Northern jus- 
tice; few were of character which would shrink from any 
oppression or dishonesty by which the}^ could enrich them- 
selves. 

Power of the Military Governors. — Bad as they were, they 
gained ascendency over the ignorant, inexperienced, credu- 
lous negroes by flattery and cajolement, and got themselves 
elected to all the best offices; while the Radical Congress 
backed them up as the best tools to harry and insult the 
hated white Southerners. The years, during which they 



Johnson's Administration. 547 

held sway, were a period of misrule and mismanagement 
almost beyond belief. For a time, there seemed no hope of 
redress. The "carpet-baggers" were to be found every- 
where. They had themselves elected governors of States, 
mayors of towns, judges of the courts. 

AUTHORITIES.— Lalor's Cyclopedia of Political Science; Elections, Impeachments, 
Reconstruction, Ku Klux, Carpet-bag Governments, &c. ; McPherson's History of Re- 
construction ; Memoirs of Charles Sumner; Thurlow Weed's Autobiography; Seward's 
Autobiography ; S. S. Cox's Three Decades, Union, Disunion, Reunion ; Memoir of Jef- 
ferson Davis by his widow; Bishop Wilmer's Recent Past from a Southern Standpoint; 
Memoir of General Pendleton; Appleton's Annual Cyclopedia; Newspapers of the 
Period. 

QUESTIONS. — 1. What was the condition of the countrj^ especially 
at the South, after the vpar? 2. What spirit did the Southern soldiers 
show ? 3. What position did General Lee take ? 4. What opinion was held 
by Mr. Lincoln and President Johnson as to the seceded States ? 5. "Wliat 
stand did the President now take ? 6. What was his amnesty proclamation ? 
7. Tell of the Thirteenth Amendment. 8. Of the laws to regulate labor in 
the South. 9. How were the Southern members of Congress treated ? 10. What 
difference arose between the President and Congress ? 11. Tell of the " Freed- 
men's Bureau." 12. Of the bills passed over the President's veto. 13. What 
was the Fourteenth Amendment? 14. How was it received? 15. Tell of the 
President's tour and speeches in 186G. 16. Describe the work of the Recon- 
struction Committee. 17. What sort of powei' was set up in the South? 
18. What bills were passed in 1867? 19. What was the "ironclad oath"? 
20. Who were the carpet-baggens and scalawags? 21. Tell of the power of 
the military governors. 



CHAPTER LXXXV. 

JOHNSON'S ADMINISTRATION, CONTINUED.— GEANT'S AD- 
MINIS TRA TION. 

Impeachment of the President, 1868. — The hostility be- 
tween the President and Congress came to a crisis in Feb- 
ruary, 1868, when Congress, incited to such a step mainly 
by the influence of Thaddeus Stevens of Pennsylvania, im- 
peached Mr. Johnson for " high crimes and misdemeanors." 
Only the House of Representatives has power to impeach; 
only the Senate to try an impeached person. On February 
25th, Mr. Thaddeus Stevens and Mr. John A. Bingham ap- 
peared at the bar of the Senate, and in the name of the 
House, impeached the President, and demanded that the 
Senate should try the case. The charges against Mr. Johnson 



548 History of the United States. 

were that he had removed Secretary Stanton ; had issued orders 
directly to General Emory; and had attacked and abused 
Congress in his public speeches. As we read them now, 
these charges seem frivolous. Although Mr. Johnson's acts 
and words had been passonate and undignified, unworthy of 
the high position he held, there was nothing in them which 
was unconstitutional or which merited so strong measures 
as trial and removal from office. 

His Acquittal. — The trial was begun on the 5th of March. 
On May 16th, the case was brought to a vote. Of the fifty- 
four Senators, thirty-five voted for conviction, nineteen for 
acquittal. The two-thirds necessary for conviction could 
not be mustered against the President. The Chief Justice 
entered judgment of acquittal, and the Court dissolved. 
Secretary Stanton resigned, and Mr. Johnson won the fight, 
though he had never ceased his passionate denunciations of 
Congress. 

Re-Admission of States, 1868. — By the end of June, the 
Reconstructed governments had been completed in Arkansas, 
the Carolinas, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and Louisiana. 
Made up as they were of negroes, carpet-baggers and Fede- 
ral officers, there was little difficulty in getting the mongrel 
legislatures to ratify the Fourteenth Amendment, which W' as 
proclaimed a law on July 28th. The constitutions adopted 
by the States above named having been approved by Con- 
gress, they were re-admitted to representation in that body. 
Virginia, Mississippi, and Texas would not accept the con- 
stitutions which Reconstructing conventions prepared for 
them, and were held under military governors for several 
years longer. 

Election of General Grant. — In 1868, General Grant, the 
Republican candidate, was elected President over Horatio 
Seymour, the Democratic candidate. The newly admitted 
Southern States were in possession of negro voters led like 
sheep by Republican emissaries, and so the electoral col- 
lege gave a majority for Grant of 134, although the votes for 
Seymour among the 6,000,000 voters who took part in the 
election, were only some 300,000 less than those cast for 
General Grant. 

Fifteenth Amendment. — Before the new President was in- 
augurated in the next spring, 1869, Congress prepared the 



Johnson's Administration. 549 

Fifteenth Amendment which conferred tlie right of suf- 
rage on the negroes, and gave Congress power to enforce 
it. This amendment was ratified by the requisite number 
of States, and became a law in the following year. Its 
acceptance, as well as that of the Fourteenth, was made a 
necessary condition for the admission of the three Southern 
States still left out of the Union. During the next year, 
these States, also, under the strong hand of military rule, 
were declared to be " reconstructed," and were once more 
counted among the States represented in Congress. 

Oppression of the Reconstructed Governments. — The States 
might nominally be represented there, the people certainly 
were not. The military power had been oppressive and dicta- 
torial. Some of the generals who ruled in the five districts 
had been, it is true, more prudent and more considerate of the 
white population, than others, and discharged their respon- 
sibilities in a more conscientious and humane spirit; but the 
government had never professed to be anything but military. 
There had been nowhere any pretence of freedom; no mockery 
of a representative government like this under Reconstruc- 
tion, which ignored the whole of the intelligent white popu- 
lation, while oppressing and robbing them without mercy. 
Under this Reconstruction policy, the Southern States be- 
came, to use the language of one of the strongest Northern 
writers, "a political hell." 

Offices Filled by Carpet-baggers and Negroes. — In South 
Carolina, the governor, lieutenant-governor and all the 
State officers were carpet-baggers or negroes. In other 
States, officers of the army which had laid them desolate 
shared the government with negroes and with other North- 
ern adventurers. Many of the negroes in the legislatures, 
in the courts of justice, and in the magistrate's chair could 
neither read nor write, and were unable to understand any 
of the important questions of the troublous times. Govern- 
ment administered by such irresponsible hands, became 
every day more unjust and corrupt. The first object of the 
unprincipled whites who moulded to their will the ignorant 
negroes elated at their fancied equality with white officials, 
was to enrich themselves; and, for this object, they used all 
base devices. Taxes were imposed on the impoverished 
States far heavier than the most prosperous times would 



550 History of the United States. 

warrant, and these taxes had to be paid by the white popu- 
lation which was allowed no part in the government. 
Railroads and other schemes were chartered, which paid enor- 
mous bribes to the State officials "putting them through." 
Private citizens and corporations were fleeced without 
mercy. In South Carolina, the debt of the State was in- 
creased under this iniquitous rule from $5,000,000 at the 
close of the war to $30,000,000 in the next ten years. A 
similar condition of things prevailed elsewhere. Missis- 
sippi and Louisiana, especially, suffered as deeply as South 
Carolina. 

Evils Increased by Freedmen's Bureau.— The hard lot of 
the intelligent, cultivated white population who saw the 
States they loved so well thus ruined and degraded, was in- 
creased by the officious interference of the Freedmen's 
Bureau into all departments of social and domestic life. 
Any story, carried by an idle, vindictive negro, of real or im- 
aginary wrong done by a white employer, was eagerl}'^ heard 
by some Bureau official, from whom the party accused was 
certain to receive some offensive reproof or admonition, 
while the negroes were encouraged in idleness and insubor- 
dination. One of the exhibitions of independence in which 
the colored people most delighted, was to take possession of 
the whole sidewalk in the towns and force the whites into 
the gutters or the mud. To avoid unpleasant collisions, 
white women and children, and the more peaceable among 
the men stepped aside into the mud or dust, and quietly 
passed by. If, as sometimes happened, a white man as- 
serted his right to a part of the pavement, and thereby 
jostled against the negroes, he was liable to be summoned 
to answer a charge of " assault" before the Bureau officer. 

The Loyal Leagues. — One way in which these crafty white 
leaders influenced the colored people for evil, was by the 
introduction among them of secret societies known as 
"Loyal Leagues," or "Lincoln Leagues." These leagues 
seem to have been partly religious and partly political. The 
members were bound by solemn oaths to carry out the ob- 
jects of the society, which were intended to strengthen the 
Northern adventurers, and to work all the harm possible to 
the Southern whites. Their meetings were held at night, 
when violent harangues incited the negroes to manifestations 



Johnson's AdTninistration. 551 

of hostility, and under their influence outrages were com- 
mitted too horrible to be described. The Freedmen's Bu- 
reau greatly encouraged these pernicious leagues. 

Patient Submission Impossible. — It was impossible for a 
high-spirited, courageous people to submit patiently to such 
a course of outrages and indignities from the negroes, whom 
they knew to be wholly unfit for governing, and from white 
men, often below the negroes in a moral point of view. The 
Southern whites were pledged, however, to refrain from a 
resort to arms, and had to devise some other means to 
lighten the yoke which became daily more galling. 

Secret Societies for Protection. — As has frequently hap- 
pened under oppressive and iniquitous government, where 
open resistance was impossible, recourse was had to secret 
organizations. These were, at first, entirely local, and were 
intended only for self-protection against the barn-burnings 
and worse outrages which were perpetrated by the negroes. 
In different places they were known by different names, as 
" The Pale Faces," "The Invisible Empire," '' Knights of the 
White Camellia," and other fantastic epithets. In the be- 
ginning, the best men of the South seem to have taken 
part in these societies. They wrought upon the fears and 
superstitions of the negroes, by appearing suddenly at night, 
with masked faces and flowing white robes, and sometimes 
giving, in sepulchral tones, startling accounts of themselves 
as ghosts and evil spirits, and threatening terrible penalties 
upon all who resisted their will. 

" Ku Klux Klan." — The different societies were after a 
while known by the one name of the " Ku Klux Klan," 
which became quite powerful and influential; though there 
does not appear to have been any general and widespread 
organization. The methods resorted to for intimidating the 
" Loyal Leagues," and protecting white women and defence- 
less families, had proved so efficacious, that they were now 
employed for political purposes. The enormous negro ma- 
jorities in the Southern States were seen to be the potent 
weapon of all the misrule and dishonesty everywhere preva- 
lent, and the " Ku Klux" devoted its efforts to keep the ne- 
groes from voting. Sometimes severe whippings were ad- 
ministered to negroes and to Northern whites who encouraged 
others to deeds of violence against the already harassed and 



552 History oj the United States. 

exasperated Southerners. Outrages and indignities, perpe- 
trated by negroes under the influence of the Leagues, were 
paid back by the Ku Klux. Often, no doubt, private 
vengeance, severely executed, was unjustly imputed to that 
mysterious body. The best men at the South did not ap- 
prove these extreme measures, but the control of the Klans 
passed out of their hands into those of more hot-headed 
and unscrupulous leaders. 

Oppression and Tyranny. — The Democratic party at the 
North which had cast so large a vote for Seymour, was en- 
tirely opposed to the tyranny and oppression practiced at 
the South, but it was powerless to prevent it. The Republi- 
cans had the power, and were determined to keep it; and 
the surest way to do so was to maintain its supremacy in 
the Southern States, no matter how corrupt its agents and 
the modes they employed might be. Whenever the white 
men in any part of the South became too strong to be con- 
trolled by the negroes and carpet-baggers, loud complaints 
were made to the government in Washington, and United 
States troops were sent to assist the Reconstruction govern- 
ors in their despotic rule. This added another element of 
strife and confusion to the already distracted and down- 
trodden South. It is impossible to give you a clear idea of 
the condition of affairs where all was turmoil and agitation. 
The history of the South from 1865 to 1876 is a history of 
military oppression and civil tyranny. 

Affairs in Louisiana. — In Louisiana, South Carolina, Mis- 
sissippi, and Arkansas, there was, if possible, more misrule 
and more exercise of despotic power than in the other 
States. As early as the summer of 1866, there had been 
bloody riots in Louisiana between the partisans of the pro- 
visional governor recognized by Mr. Lincoln, and the one 
appointed by Mr. Johnson. General Sheridan, the military 
governor who superseded both contending parties, proved 
so arbitrary that he was ordered elsewhere. The Republi- 
can rule was so oppressive that most of the whites and a 
number of the negro voters favored Mr. Seymour's election 
in 1868, and there were large Democratic majorities. But 
the party in power would not yield, and bloody riots oc- 
curred all over the State. In New Orleans, colored Demo- 
crats were mobbed and one of their orators murdered in the 



Johnson's Administration. 553 

street. At last the Republicans began quarrelling among 
themselves, especially over the offices. Twice, two different 
governors claimed to be elected. In one of these contests, 
in 1870, General Grant recognized a negro, one Pinchbeck, 
as governor. In another contest, between the Republicans 
and Democrats, when there were two returning boards, two 
governors, and two legislatures, each claiming to be the 
lawful one, the President allowed the Democratic legislature 
to assemble, and declared Kellogg, the Republican, the 
lawful governor. The best of the negroes co-operated with 
the white residents in resisting Kellogg's authority. Again 
there were riots and bloodshed in different places. The 
people in New Orleans rose up and deposed Kellogg. 
United States troops were sent to uphold him, and military 
rule was re-established. Whoever exercised the governing 
power, the plundering and impoverishment of the State 
went on without mercy. The confiscation of property was 
immense and widespread, and all the profits went to enrich 
the carpet-baggers. The government officials stole unblush- 
ingly. Warmouth, the Republican governor before Kellogg, 
a Northerner who came into the State a very pooi man, 
amassed a large fortune while in office. 

The Force Bill. — The indignation and opposition to the 
whole system of proscription and robbery, became so strong 
in Louisiana and the other oppressed and plundered States, 
that, whenever the troops were withdrawn, the whites gained 
the upper hand ; and, in conjunction with some of the negroes, 
who were partly frightened and partly persuaded to side with 
them, they showed their States to be in favor of the Demo- 
crats. This, the Republican Congress had no mind to allow, 
and in 1871, a Force Bill was passed which gave control of 
all Federal elections to United States' officials and soldiers. 
The Returning Boards established by the corrupt legisla- 
tures to count and decide the votes, and the protection 
granted to them under this bill, made nearly all the election 
difficulties and contests to which we have alluded. These 
measures held the people of the South in thralldom a few 
years longer; but such tyranny could not maintain itself for- 
ever. When Mississippi, in 1875, cast a strong Democratic 
vote, Revels, the negro Senator from the State, wrote to Gen- 
eral Grant, " My people as they grow older grow wiser. They 



654 History of the United States. 

have learned that they were being used as tools, and cast 
their ballots against unprincipled adventurers to overthrow 
them." 

Effects of Reconstruction Rule. — I have not told you half 
that might be written of the horrors and iniquities of the " Re- 
construction Period." Except in loss of life, the South suf- 
fered far more than during the four years of actual war. 
The evil consequences to the whole Union of the lawless ex- 
ercise of despotic power, the disregard of moral obligations, 
and the greed for wealth which trampled upon all honor and 
honesty, have been long and lasting. Little by little, after 
years of mingled endurance and resistance, oppression and 
plundering fell into disgrace in the South. Slowly and 
grudgingly. Congress doled out amnesty to the proscribed 
Southerners, and the States gathered up the reins of self-gov- 
ernment into their own hands. Native patriots once more 
filled the stations for which their abilities and experience 
fitted them, and the long reign of terror and proscription 
came to an end. The last act of the Reconstruction gov- 
ernments belongs to the story of a later period. 

AUTHORITIES. — Lalor's Cyclopedia of Political Science; Elections. Impeachments, 
Reconstruction, Ku Klux, Carpet-bag Governments, &c. ; McPherson's History of Recon- 
struction; Memoirs of Cliarles Sumner; Tliurlow Weed's Autobiography; Seward's 
Autobiography; S. S. Cox's Three Decades, Union, Disunion, Reunion; Memoirs of 
JeSerson Davis by liis widow; Bishop Wilmer's Recent Past from a Southern Stand- 
point ; Memoir of General Pendleton; Appleton's Annual Cyclopedia; Newspapers of 
the Period ; Curry's Southern States. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. Tell of the impeachment of President Johnson. 2. Of 
his acquittal. 3. What States were re-admitted to the Union in 1868? 
4. Which three States were still able to resist the Reconstruction rule ? 5. Who 
was elected President in 1868 ? <3. What is the Fifteenth Amendment to the 
Constitution ? 7. Tell of the oppression of the South. 8. Who filled all the 
State offices, and how were they elected? 9. Tell of the evils of the " Freed- 
men's Bureau." 10. What were the Loyal Leagues? 11. Was patient sub- 
mission possible? 12. What did the white men organize? 18. Tell of the 
" Ku Klux Klan,"and of its measures, and its subsequent abuse. 14. What 
is the story of the South from 1865 to 1876 ? 15. Tell of affairs in Louisi- 
ana, of the two governments there, and of the robbery and abuse of power. 
16. What was the Force Bill? 17. Were its results all that the Republicans 
desired ? 18. What were the effects of Reconstruction rule ? 



CHAPTER LXXXVI. 

GRANT' 8 ADMINISTRATION. 

Atlantic Telegraph, 1866. — In giving you the story of Re- 
construction, I have passed over a period of ten years, and 
we must now go back and take up the account of the pro- 
gress of other events in the United States during that time. 
Two notable occurrences, during Andrew Johnson's term as 
President, were the laying of a new Atlantic telegraph line 
and the purchase of Alaska from the Russians. The first 
telegraph line laid in 1858 had. become useless after trans- 
mitting several messages. For eight years longer Mr. Cyrus 
W. Field labored to have a new one constructed; and at last, 
after spending $6,000,000 on it, he saw his efforts crowned 
with success in 1866 and the sub-marine cable in operation. 
There are now five of these ocean lines between us and 
Europe, and one to Brazil. 

Purchase of Alaska, 1867. — In 1867, the Russian territory 
in America, now known as Alaska, was bought by the United 
States for a little over $7,000,000. It is a vast region, lying 
far north, but its climate is tempered by the warm Pacific 
Current, somewhat as that of Great Britain is by the Gulf 
Stream, and it has great tracts of fine cedar and pine tim- 
ber, valuable fisheries, and furs — especially seal skins, — and 
important minerals, among which gold is said to be found 
in considerable quantities. 

Execution of Maximilian, 1867. — In this same year, the 
attempt to place a European sovereign on the throne of 
Mexico, already mentioned^ culminated in the capture and 
execution of the unfortunate Emperor Maximilian at Que- 
retaro. The United States had, from the first, protested 
against the effort made by Napoleon III. of France to estab- 
lish a monarchy so near her republican boundaries. As 
soon as the civil war was ended, United States troops were 
sent out to the Mexican frontier. Napoleon withdrew the 
French force which alone maintained Maximilian in his 
authority, and his overthrow and destruction soon followed. 

Chinese Embassy, 1868. — In 1868, China sent to the United 
States the first embassy she had ever commissioned to any 

[ 555] 



656 History of the United States. 

foi'eign nation. Since that time friendly relations have been 
kept up between the two governments, although the United 
States has felt it necessary to restrict the continuous immi- 
gration of Chinese into this country. 

Completion of First Pacific Railroad, 1869. — The same 
year in which General Grant w^as inaugurated, w^itnessed the 
completion of the first Pacific Railroad which connected the 
eastern and western shores of the United States. Four 
other great railroads now cross the continent, and the 
journey is made in fewer days than it formerly took months; 
so that the quickest route from England to China is across 
North America. 

Price of Gold, 1869.— The immense amount of paper 
money issued during the w^ar had made it decline in value. 
At one time it took 286 cents in " greenbacks " — United 
States paper money — to buy 100 cents in gold. By 1869, 
greenbacks had risen in value so that a gold dollar was 
worth only 130 cents in paper. Some bankers in New 
York determined to make gold go up in such a w^ay as to 
reap a great fortune for themselves. All foreign trade has 
to be carried on in gold, so that merchants and bankers 
are obliged to have it at almost any price. There were 
$15,000,000 in the New York banks and $100,000,000 in the 
United States Treasury in Washington. Fiske and Gould, 
two men of great shrewdness and large fortune, quietly be- 
gan buying gold in New York, constantly paying a little 
more and asking a still higher price for it, and determined 
that they would raise the value of one gold dollar to tw^o 
paper dollars. 

" Black Friday " in Wall Street, 1869.— On the morning 
of September 24th there was the greatest excitement ever 
known in the Gold-room on Wall Street, New York. The 
conspirators held nearly all the gold in the market, and 
would let no one have it except at such a price as was ruin- 
ous to the purchasers. Just as they and their colleagues 
seemed to hold the business of the nation paralyzed in their 
grasp, a telegram from Washington announced that the 
Secretary of the Treasury offered $4,000,000 in gold for sale. 
In a second the price began to fall, and in twenty minutes 
went down twenty per cent. There w^as a great panic. It 
is said that some men were crushed to death in the rush 



Granfs Administration. 557 

and pressure to bid for the gold at the falling prices, and 
that others died from the shock of losing where they expected 
to make enormous gains. The principal actors in specula- 
tion pocketed $11,000,000, before their game was checked. 
The business of the country was injured for months by the 
evil doings on that "Black Friday," as the day was called. 

Internal Revenue.— The year 1870 saw Virginia, Missis- 
sippi, and Texas reconstructed, and the next year their so- 
called representatives were admitted to Congress. The cen- 
sus of this year showed that, notwithstanding the ravages of 
war, the population of the country had increased in ten years 
from 31,000,000 to 38,000,000 and the wealth of the nation 
in almost as large a proportion. The enormous war debt 
was being lessened, principally by a system of taxation upon 
everything produced in the country, which was known as 
" Internal Revenue." As the South, with its crops of cotton, 
tobacco, sugar, and rice, was still a great agricultural sec- 
tion, this system added to the burdens of her already over- 
taxed people. 

Death of General Robert E. Lee, 1870.— On October 12, 
1870, General Robert E. Lee died at his home in Lexington, 
Virginia, where, as President of Washington College, he 
had devoted himself to training and influencing for good 
the young men of the South. His death was sincerely 
mourned by friend and foe, and his memory is cherished 
as one of the noblest and purest of Christian patriots. 

Settlement of the Alabama Claims. — The United States 
had, as we have seen, taken great offence against England 
on account of a few vessels procured in her ports for service 
under the Confederate flag; and in 1871, the injury done by 
the Alabama especially to American commerce, was made a 
ground of complaint, and large claims were made for the 
payment of such damage. After much agitation of the 
question, Great Britain agreed to pay the United States 
$15,500,000 for the injuries done by Confederate cruisers, 
while the United States had to pay $5,500,000 for the privi- 
lege of fishing in Canadian waters. 

Great Fires in 1871 and 1872.— The year 1871 and the 
next were saddened by disastrous conflagrations. A great 
fire in Chicago, kindled, it was said, by a lamp which a cow 
kicked over in a shed partly filled with straw, burned for 



558 History of the United States. 

days and consumed $200,000,000 worth of property. Forest 
fires in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota caused immense 
destruction of timber and great loss of life. In 1872, a fire 
in Boston caused a loss of $80,000,000. 

" Rings " in the Large Cities. — In New York City, it was 
found that " Boss " Tweed, a commissioner of public works, 
in connection with other city officers, had gotten up what 
was known as a " Ring," which had contrived to rob the city 
of millions of dollars. The ring was at last broken up, and 
Tweed died in jail. Similar corruptions were found to exist 
in other large cities; and before long, the evil lesson learned 
by fraudulent Government contracts during the war, and in 
the school of Southern Reconstruction, that there were 
easier ways of making money than by honest industry, 
affected the National Government itself. 

Credit Mobilier. — Two Pacific railways, the Central and 
the Union, had been built by the aid of enormous grants 
from the Government. A corporation, known as the " Credit 
Mobilier," had been chartered in Pennsylvania to build the 
Union Pacific Road. Members of Congress were believed 
to have received bribes from this corporation. Among these 
were the Vice-President and his successor; the Secretary of 
the Treasury; the Speaker of the House of Representatives; 
and other prominent and influential men. Although only 
two of these were actually proven guilty, the others were 
never cleared of suspicion; and as this very Congress passed 
what was known as the " Salary Grab Act," which gave to 
each of the members increased pay for their past as well as 
their present term of office, it may justly be considered as a 
dishonest and dishonored body. Congress in the next ses- 
sion repealed the " Grab Act." 

Financial Crash of 1873. — The discovery of the Credit 
Mobilier operations was instrumental in bringing on one of 
the worst money panics which has ever affected the country. 
The Northern Pacific Railroad was being made. Its busi- 
ness was in the hands of a great bank in Philadelphia. 
This house was considered to be enormously rich, and ad- 
vanced money for making the road, expecting to be sus- 
tained and repaid by assistance and grants from Congress. 
The exposure of the Credit Mobilier had such an effect upon 
the public mind, that Congress did not dare to vote money 



Grant's Administration. 559 

to any railroad. Jay Cooke's bank found the bonds of the 
road, which were its securities, unsalable. It could get no 
more money and failed for $15,000,000, carrying down in its 
fall a number of smaller banks and business houses. A 
great financial crash followed. Other railroad companies 
failed, and their stockholders lost everything. There were 
distress and "hard times" everywhere, which bore more 
heavily on the poorer working people than any others. 
Business was paralyzed, and it was several years before con- 
fidence was restored and trade and work became at all pros- 
perous. 

Re-election of Grant, 1872. — General Grant was re-elected 
in the fall of 1872 for another term. His opponent, Horace 
Greeley of New York, who ran as a " Liberal Republican," 
could not be heartily endorsed by the Democrats who had 
no candidate of their own, and consequently suffered a large 
defeat. During Grant's second term, the corruption of gov- 
ernment officers was more marked than ever. A spirit of 
wild speculation took possession of the moneyed classes 
which was doubtless the result, in large measure, of the 
upheaval of law and justice caused by the war and the Re- 
construction period. 

Whiskey Frauds. — One of the most productive articles of 
internal revenue was whiskey. Great quantities were manu- 
factured in diff'erent parts of the country, and it was dis- 
covered that United States' officials had combined with dis- 
tillers of whiskey in the West to defraud the Government 
of very large sums of money~$l,200,000 in a few months. 
Even the President's Cabinet was infected with dishonesty. 
General Belknap, the Secretary of War, was impeached by 
Congress for taking bribes and selling the patronage of his 
office. His guilt was very manifest, but he was permitted to 
resign and thereby escaped paying its penalty. 

Civil Service Reform, 1871 — Weather Bureau. — The eight 
years of General Grant's administration were not all given 
up to the evils of Reconstruction at the South and demor- 
alization in the North. A desire to improve the public ser- 
vice, induced Congress in 1871 to give the President power 
to establish a Commission to regulate admission to what is 
known as the "civil service." The object of this move was 
to give offices only to persons fit for them, and not to make 



560 



History of the United States. 



them prizes for successful politicians. The first Commis- 
sion was only supported by Congress until 1874; but it has 
since been re-established, and its rules and examinations 
now regulate the bestowal of most of the Federal offices. 
The Weather Bureau was also established in 1872. 

The Modoc War, 1873.— General Grant, who had lived in 
the West and knew a good deal about the Indians, was de- 
sirous to civilize them and induce them to live peaceably 
with the whites. To effect this, he put the control of Indian 
affairs principally in the hands of the Quakers or "Friends," 
hoping that their influence might persuade the Red Men to 




THE CAPITOL (AVEST FEONT). 

give up their wild life and become farmers and cattle raisers. 
This humane policy could not induce the Modoc Indians to 
abandon their lands in Oregon and remove quietly to the 
Indian Territory. They refused to go, and defied the United 
States troops to compel them. Their leader, " Captain Jack," 
hated the whites, because his father had been killed by the 
order of an army officer while under a flag of truce. To 
avoid needless bloodshed, a truce with the Modocs was 
agreed upon, and General Canby and other commissioners 
met them in council. The Indians could not resist such an 
opportunity to avenge their wrongs. General Canby and a 
clergyman with him, were murdered in the council, and an- 
other commissioner was wounded. In the fierce war which fol- 



Grant's Administration. 561 

lowed, the Modocs were at last forced to surrender their whole 
band, and their chiefs were court-martialed and executed. 

The Sioux War, 1876. — Another bloody struggle took 
place three years later. The Sioux Indians, instead of re- 
maining peaceably on their reservation in Dakota, roved into 
Montana and Wyoming, committing robberies and murders 
among the white settlers. A force was sent to subdue 
them. General Custer, commanding a body of cavalry, in- 
creased the exasperation of the Indians by burning their 
towns and inflicting punishment upon their women and 
children. On June 2oth, while scouting near the Big Horn 
River, the cavalry suddenly encountered the Indians in large 
force. In the battle which ensued, General Custer and all 
his men w^ere killed. For months after this, the war raged 
murderously. The Indians were defeated again and again, 
and, at last, the remnant of them took refuge in Canada to 
avoid extermination. 

Centennial Exposition, 1876. — This was the Centennial 
year of the Republic, and it was resolved to celebrate it by 
a Great International Exposition to be held in Fairmount 
Park, Philadelphia. More than two hundred buildings were 
erected — several of them entirely of iron and glass — in 
which there was a grand display of the products of the 
whole world, and an exhibit of many of the finest speci- 
mens of manufactures and arts. Millions of people from 
abroad and from all parts of the United States visited the 
Exposition, and learned for the first time to appreciate the 
resources and wealth of the Republic. Electric lights and 
telephones, now so common, were first exhibited at this 
Exposition. 

Colorado Admitted to the Union, 1876. — Colorado is 
called the " Centennial State," because she was admitted to 
the Union in this year. The building of the Pacific Rail- 
roads, by making transportation easy, had greatly contri- 
buted to settling the wide region between the old States and 
the Sierra Nevada. At the close of the war, thousands of 
men returned home to find their former places filled and 
their work done by others. Soldiering had given them un- 
settled habits and they moved in crowds to the newly 
opened western Territories, out of which new States were 
soon organized. Nebraska had been the first of these, in 
36 



662 History of the United States. 

1867; Colorado, the thirty-eighth State, the second. West 
Virginia and Nevada had been admitted during the war. 

Tilden and Hayes, 1876.— In the fall of the Centennial 
year, another presidential election took place. Rutherford 
B. Hayes of Ohio became the Republican candidate, Samuel 
J. Tilden of New York, the Democratic candidate. The 
evils of the long continued Republican rule had greatly 
strengthened their opponents, and a large majority of the 
popular vote was known to be in Tilden's favor, but, to se- 
cure election, there must also be a majority in the Electoral 
College. The whole number of electors was 369, and 185 
votes were necessary for the success of either candidate. 
Both sides claimed the victory, but Tilden had 184 of the 
electoral votes undisputed. Twenty others were disputed. 

" Joint Rule." — In its determination to control the South, 
Congress had, in 1865, passed a " Joint Rule," that any vote 
for President to which objection was offered should be thrown 
out of the count, unless both houses of Congress concurred 
in accepting it. Under this rule, all the votes of Louisiana 
and Arkansas, with three in Georgia — all of them in favor 
of Greeley against Grant — had been rejected in 1873. In 
June, 1876, this " Joint Rule " was repealed by the House 
of Representatives, which had become largely Democratic 
by the change of public opinion throughout the country. 
The Senate, however, had still a considerable Republican 
majority. Neither house would concur with the other in 
accepting votes contrary to their political preferences. 

Two Governments in Louisiana and South Carolina. — There 
were, at this time, two governors, each claiming to be the law- 
ful one, in Louisiana and in South Carolina; and both these 
States sent two sets of electors, one certified by the return- 
ing boards and the usurping Republican governors, and 
another certified by the lawfully elected Democratic gover- 
nors. From Florida, also, there were two sets of presidential 
electors, one endorsed by the Republican governor, and the 
other by a Democratic member of the returning board and 
the Democratic governor elect. On examiningthe cases, it was 
found that in South Carolina, part of which was by General 
Grant declared to be under martial law, there had been so 
much interference by the United States soldiers at the polls, 
that no legal vote had been possible. Whatever right there 
was, was plainly on the Democratic side. 



Grant's Administration. 5g3 

Electoral Votes Dispnted.-In Louisiana, the returning 
board appointed by tl,e illegal legislature, had no Democrati? 
member, and had thrown out over 12,000 Democratic vote^ 
in the strong Democratic districts. To maTe this annenr 
plausible, tliey Iiad also thrown out 2,000 Repub lican ^o^te' 
but not enough to injure the false majority they had thus 
manufactured for their party. In Florida, thereVas inter 
ferenee at the polls, as in South Carolina, ;nd throwing out 
of lawful votes as in Louisiana. In Orcffon too thJtT 
a difficulty. Republican electors had thfm'a or°'ty'but T 

UntT^rf ""'ffl '''■■'t^ ^^ '"^"g'"^ because he held a 
United States office The governor, therefore, gave certifi- 
cates to wo Republicans, and the third to the Democrat 
lTAjf""\f-^''' number of votes. As Tilden had aTready 
184 votes, this one from Oregon would have elected him 
without any from the disputed ^Southern Statls. 

Electoral Oommission.-To decide between the contending 
parties without the long and fierce debate which would per 
haps arise over them in Congress, that body appointed wS 
was known as the "Electoral Commission,'^compo7ed of fit 
teen members-five from the Senate, five fronAhe House 
of Representatives, and five Judges of the Supreme Court 
The Senate chose two Democrats and three Republicans the 
House two Republicans and three Democrats. FourTudws 
were then appointed, two belonging to each partv ThS 

;:cTed tlTT"" '"T "'^^ "^' - ^'-'- '-- ™ - 

pected Judge Davis, who was a non-party man, matters 

fTom ™™-^°"';"'^''^''""j- ^"' ^^^'^ waLleeted "nato 
from Illinois and resigned the judgeship The onlv two 

Democratic Judges were already ^n tLco'mmi^sion Jifdth: 
fifth one chosen. Judge Bradley, was necessarily a Republi! 

Election of Hayes— When the Commission assembled 
the ablest lawyers in the land were employed on both sides' 
but Its decision was determined by the strict party voteof eigh^ 
Republicans to seven Democrats. The evidence! brought for 
ward by Judge Black of Pennsylvania, and Mr.- Charles O'Con- 
nor of New York, of fraud and the suppression of Demo- 
cratic votes in South Carolina, Louisiana, and Florida an- 
pears to be unanswerable. It was shown plainly, that' the 
Democratic majority was large in those States. To avoid 



564 History of the United States. 

being influenced by this, the liepublican majority of the 
Commission decided that they would not go behind the cer- 
tificates signed by the Republican governors, and that all 
evidence of fraud in obtaining these certificates was aliunde, 
or outside the question. This, of course, gave South Caro- 
lina, Florida, and Louisiana to Hayes, although their people 
were strongly in favor of Tilden. The latter needed, as I 
have told you, only one vote to assure his election, and the 
Oregon Democratic certificate signed by the governor gave 
him that one. But here the majority of the Commission 
changed its ground. Only facts in favor of the Democrats 
were aliunde. It admitted evidence that the Republican 
thrown out by the governor of Oregon had resigned his 
United States office, declared him eligible in spite of the gov- 
ernor's certificate, and counted 185 votes for Hayes. 

AUTHORITIES.— Grant's Personal Memoirs; Fiske'S History of the United States; 
Appleton's Annual Cyclopedia; Wilson's Division and Reunion; Contemporary Peri- 
odicals and Newspapers; T. N. Page's Old South; Curry's Southern States. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. When was the second Atlantic Telegraph laid ? 2. Tell 
of the purchase of Alaska. 3. The story of Maximilian in Mexico. 4. Friendly 
relations with China. 5. Tell of the Pacific railroads. 6. Tell of the price 
of gold and of "Black Friday." 7. What is Internal Revenue? 8. Tell 
of the death of General Lee. 9. How were the Alabama claims settled? 
10. What great fires occurred in 1871 and 1873 ? 11. Tell of the " Rings" in 
the large cities. 12. Of the Credit Mobilier. 13. Of the financial crash of 
1873. 14. Who was elected President in 1872? 15. Tell of the whiskey 
frauds. 16. Of the Civil Service Reform, and the Weather Bureau. 17. Re- 
late the Modoc War. 18. The Sioux War. 19. Describe Centennial Exposi- 
tion of 1876. 20. What was it intended to celebrate? 21. When was Colo- 
rado admitted to the Union ? 22. Nebraska ? 23. West Virginia and Nevada ? 
34. Tell of the Presidential election in 1876. 25. What was the "Joint 
Rule " ? 26. Tell of the double elections in Louisiana and South Carolina. 
27. Which votes were disputed ? 28. What was the Electoral Commission ? 
29. What was the final result of the election ? 30. AVho became President in 
1876? 



CHAPTER LXXXVII. 

HA YBS'8 ADMINI8TRA TION. 

The seventeen years since Mr. Hayes came into office, are 
too close to us to allow any real history of them; but a 
glance can be taken at the principal events of his and the 
succeeding administrations. 



Hayes's Administration. 565 

The South After Hayes's Election. — Mr. Hayes, though 
made President by fraudulent votes from the South, proved 
a friend to that section of the Union. Shortly after his in- 
auguration, he ordered that all the United States troops 
should be removed from the Southern States. As soon as 
the soldiers were withdrawn, the carpet-bag rulers disap- 
peared. The Republican governors by whose certificates 
Mr. Hayes had been elected, quietly gave way to the Demo- 
crats who had claimed to be chosen by the people. The 
ease with which they took possession of the State Govern- 
ments, when once released from Federal interference, showed 
how just that claim had been. From that time to this, the 
South, under the guidance and control of her own sons, has 
moved steadily forward. She has presented a solid oppo- 
sition to the party which stands for all that was so oppres- 
sive and unfriendly to her in the dark days of Reconstruc- 
tion, and which has, in every political contest since that time, 
revived dead issues, and striven to awaken the hostility and 
rekindle the fires of sectional hatred — the process described 
as "Avaving the bloody shirt." 

Strife Between Labor and Capital. — The immense accumu- 
lation of wealth in the hands of a small number of indi- 
viduals or a few great corporations, bears hardly on people 
of smaller means, and especially upon those who labor for 
daily wages. To resist oppression from their employers, and 
to obtain for themselves a larger proportion of the money 
made by their work has been the aim of the employed; and 
the strife between capital and labor has occasioned danger- 
ous troubles and outbreaks in various parts of the United 
States. 

Railroad Strikes, 1877. — The first important exhibition 
of this spirit occurred in the summer of 1877, when the 
workmen on the great railroads in Maryland, Pennsylvania 
and New York became dissatisfied with their wages. The 
trouble began on the Baltimore and Ohio Road. It lowered 
its wages, and the train hands quit work and stopped the 
business of the road. The "strike" spread to other rail- 
roads, and then the miners in Pennsylvania joined in it. 
If the roads hired fresh hands to run their trains, the strikers 
burned the cars and depots. So high did their spirit of re- 
sistance rise, that the State militia and United States troops 



566 



History of the United States. 




RAILROAD STRIKE. 



had to be employed to put down the uprising. Pittsburg, 
Pennsylvania, was the scene of the greatest violence. There 

a mob of 20,000 men held control 
of the city for days. There was 
great destruction of property, and 
one hundred lives were lost. Chi- 
cago and St. Louis had similar 
though less violent riots. 

The Mississippi Jetties. — T h e 
deepening of the mouth of the 
Mississippi River was another im- 
portant event of Mr. Hayes's ad- 
ministration. The mud and sand 
brought down by the great river, 
year by year, were gradually filling up the mouths of the 
stream, and making the channels so shallow as to prevent 
large vessels from entering them. Much money and labor 
had been expended in vain eiTorts to prevent this. Captain 
Eads, of St, Louis, devised a plan by which the Mississippi 
could be compelled to clear out its own channel. He con- 
trived to build "jetties " at the mouth of the river so as to 
contract the space through which the water could pass to the 
Gulf. The current, thus partially damned up, pressed with 
great force through the narrow outlet left for it, and swept 
the sand and mud onward into the Gulf of Mexico, instead 
of depositing it on the bar. Now, large vessels can come up 
to New Orleans, and the commerce of that city is greatly 
increased. 

Resumption of Specie Payment, 1879. — On January 1, 
1879, occurred the "resumption of specie payment": that 
is, the United States Treasury and the National Banks were 
then, for the first time since 1861, able to pay all the claims 
upon them in gold instead of " greenbacks." Before this 
resumption, the Government had been obliged to pay a very 
high rate for money borrowed to pay its debts; but, after it, 
the national credit was so much improved that money could 
be had at a low interest. 

Garfield Elected President. — The four years of Mr. Hayes's 
term were a period of peace and prosperity very welcome to 
the country after the turmoil which preceded them. Abun- 
dant harvests yielded a great quantity of grain for the Euro- 




Garfield's Administration. 667 

pean markets. Immigrants flocked to our shores in larger 
numbers than ever, so that by the year 1880 the population 
of the country had risen to more 
than 50,000,000. In the fall elec- 
tion of this year, the Republicans 
nominated General James A. Gar- 
field and Chester A. Arthur, and 
the Democrats, General Winfield 
S. Hancock of the United States 
Army and William H. English, for 
President and Vice-President. Both 
Garfield and Hancock had been gen- 
erals during the war. Hancock had 
made a brilliant record. His swift- 
ness of march and promptness on 
the field had done much to secure 

the Federal victory at Gettysburg. As military governor of 
Louisiana after Sheridan's removal, he had shown himself 
just and humane, and opposed to the system of oppression 
and fraud in vogue at the South. General Garfield was, 
however, the choice of the stronger party, and became Presi- 
dent on March 4, 1881. 

Shot by Guiteau, 1881. — On July 2d, as he was about to 
leave Washington for a brief holiday, to attend the com- 
mencement at Williams College, where he had been a stu- 
dent, General Garfield was shot, in the railroad depot in 
Washington, by a disappointed officer-seeker, named Guiteau. 
For two months and a half the President lingered in great 
suff'ering, and died from the wound on September 19th, at 
Long Branch. Guiteau, who tried to prove himself insane, 
was rightly hanged. Immediately after General Garfield's 
death, Vice-President Arthur was sworn into office as Presi- 
dent. Garfield's murder called the attention of the country 
to the evils in the political system of bestowing offices, and 
a new Civil Service Act was passed by Congress, which still 
continues in force. 

Centennial Celebration at Yorktown, 1881. — This being 
the hundredth anniversary of the surrender of Cornwallis, 
a celebration was held at Yorktown, Virginia. There was a 
great assemblage of United States soldiers and war vessels. 
Representatiyes of France and Germany, and descendants 



568 



History of the United States. 



of the French and German officers who had been present in 
Washington's army, a hundred years before, came to join in 
doing honor to the occasion, and reviews on land and water 
took place during six successive days. 

Events of 1882 and 1883.— In 1882 and again in 1883, 
disastrous floods occurred in the Mississippi, Ohio, and 
other rivers which caused great destruction of property. 
In Louisiana especially, the overflow did immense injury 
to the cotton and sugar plantations, and food had to be sent 
by Congress to thousands of people thus rendered home- 
less and destitute. This ability to help others in distress, 
was one proof of the prosperity of the country. Another 
more lasting monument of it was the building in 1883 of 
the suspension bridge between Brooklyn and New York at 
a cost of $15,000,000. In this same year, the postage on 
letters to any part of the United States was reduced to two 
cents, as we now have it. 

Grover Cleveland's Election, 1884. — In the fall election 
of 1884, Grover Cleveland, the Democratic candidate, was 
chosen President by thirty-seven elec- 
toral majority over James G. Blaine, 
the Republican candidate. He was 
the first Democratic President since 
James Buchanan, a period of twenty- 
four years. The death of Mr. Hen- 
dricks, the A-'^ice-President, induced 
Congress to regulate the succession to 
the President's office. In case both 
he and the Vice-President should die, 
the Secretary of State is to become 
President, and then the other Secretaries in a regular order. 
Provision was also made for counting the electoral votes ac- 
cording to certain rules, so that an Electoral Commission 
shall not again be able to seat a candidate contrary to the 
will of the majority of the people. 

Labor Troubles. — The four years of Mr. Cleveland's ad- 
ministration were marked by some very important events. 
Most of these arose from the discontent of the working men 
with the conditions under which they found themselves. 
The year 1886 was especially noted for labor "strikes." Be- 
ginning with street-car drivers in New York they spread 




CLEVELAND. 



Cleveland's Administration. 569 

through many parts of the country, and into almost all de- 
partments of labor. Railroad hands in the North and West 
became very active in this strike, and the moving of freight 
became a difficult matter, although passenger trains were 
seldom interfered with. In Chicago, the strike assumed a 
most alarming aspect. The northwestern States have a very 
large proportion of foreign immigrants among their popu- 
lation — some of them of most objectionable character — and 
these now exerted a baleful influence. In May, 40,000 men 
in Chicago quit work and marched through the streets, de- 
manding an increase of wages and a reduction of working 
time to eight hours a day. There were meetings in public 
squares and rioting in the streets. The mobs were addressed 
by leaders, who uttered the most threatening language, and 
urged their hearers to deeds of violence. 

Anarchists, 1886. — On May 4th, the city police endeavored 
to disperse the mob. The crowd attacked the police with 
dynamite bombs, killing six and wounding more than sixty. 
The rest of the police charged into the mob, and after kill- 
ing some and wounding others, captured a number of the 
ringleaders, and dispersed the rioters. The leaders, all but 
one, were foreigners. They avowed themselves to be "An- 
archists," or enemies to all government, which they believed 
should be destroyed, even by the use of murder and all sorts 
of violence. Four of them were hanged, as they deserved 
to be, and others imprisoned for life. 

Earthquake in Charleston, 1886. — In addition to these 
labor troubles, this year was memorable for a severe earth- 
quake in and around Charleston, South Carolina, which 
overthrew houses, and shook the city so severely as to 
threaten it with total destruction. Violent storms also raged 
in the northwest, and along the Gulf of Mexico. The years 
1888 and 1889 were marked by destructive storms and cy- 
clones in which hundreds of people lost their lives. 

Election of Benjamin Harrison, 1888. — Benjamin Harri- 
son of Indiana, grandson of President Harrison of 1841, 
was elected over Grover Cleveland and inaugurated Presi- 
dent on March 4, 1889. This was the hundredth year 
since George Washington was inaugurated the first Pres- 
ident of the young Republic, and ceremonies commemo- 
rating that event took place in New York City. Later on in 




HARRISON. 



570 History of the United States. 

the year, six new States, North and South Dakota, Montana 
and Washington, Wyoming and Idaho were admitted into 
the Union. The Territory of Oklahoma 
was also formed out of a part of the 
Indian Territory. 

The TarifiF and the Currency. — The 
main political questions of this and the 
previous administration were concerning 
the tariff and the currency. Both of 
these subjects are difficult of comprehen- 
„ sion. The Northern and Middle States 

' ^^ desire a high tariff to protect their manu- 

facturing interests. The agricultural 
States are generally opposed to such protection, because 
it forces them to buy manufactured goods at high prices 
from their sister States, who do not give them corre- 
sponding payments for their raw ma'terials. The Silver 
bills, and other questions concerning finance are too 
perplexing and too much disputed for me to attempt to make 
them clear and interesting to you. They belong to another 
department of study. 

Second Election of Cleveland, 1892. — Grover Cleveland 
was elected President a second time, in 1892. Several new 
parties have arisen in the country — the " Populists," " Pro- 
hibitionists, '' &c., but they have not gained strength to con- 
tend with the Republicans and Democrats who still repre- 
sent most of the voters of the Republic. 

Columbian Exposition, 1893. — In 1893, the Great Colum- 
bian Exposition or World's Fair, was held in Chicago, to 
celebrate the four hundredth anniversary of Columbus's Dis- 
covery of America. It should rightly have taken place in 
1892, but the preparations for it could not be completed in 
time. This error in the exact time was the only fault which 
could be found with this magnificent and complete exhibit 
of all that science and the arts had been able to accomplish. 
The architectural splendor of the immense buildings, the 
exceeding grace of the mythological and emblematic groups 
which adorned them; the admirable way in which the blue 
waters of Lake Michigan were made to enhance the wonder- 
ful beauty of the external display, were, if possible, more 
striking than the exhibits within the buildings. No one 



Cleveland's Second Administration. 571 

who visited Jackson Park in 1893 will ever forget the beauty 
of the scene by day, or its splendor by night. 

Strike in Chicago. — Such a display, so well conducted, 
and the many millions of dollars expended upon it, would 
seem both a proof and a guarantee of the wealth and 
prosperity of the country. The city, likewise, which was 
chosen as the fittest place for such an exhibition, might 
well have been expected to show the same order and har- 
mony in its regulations and among its citizens as had pre- 
vailed throughout the eight months of the great Fair, among 
the millions of people who flocked to it from all parts of the 
globe. Unfortunately, in less than a year from the close of 
the Exposition, and even before all the foreign exhibits had 
been removed, there broke out in Chicago the most dis- 
astrous labor strike ever known in this country. 

Railroads Stopped. — Beginning with the employees of the 
Pullman Car Company, the strike extended to all branches of 
railroad business throughout the North and West. Trade was 
interrupted; the mails were stopped; no trains were allowed 
to run. If the railroad companies employed other hands, 
the strikers used violence and even resorted to murder to 
prevent the work from going on. A wholesale destruction 
of property went on for days. It was only the resolute au- 
thority exercised by President Cleveland in sending United 
States soldiers to the scene of the trouble that, at last, put an 
end to the strife. The amount of loss sustained has never 
been ascertained, but it reached many millions. One im- 
portant fact connected with this, as with the other great 
strikes, is that the South had no part in it. While soldiers 
had to be ordered to many points in the North and West, 
absolute peace and security prevailed throughout the law- 
abiding South. Her homogeneous people, with the same 
general interests, and with a just regard for their own rights 
and the rights of others, are to-day, as they have always 
been, singularly free from that spirit of discontent which is 
tlie bane of all governments, unless it resort to legitimate 
means to effect the redress of grievances, and to promote the 
general welfare. 

AUTHORITIES.— Grant's Personal Memoirs: Piske's History of the United States; 
Appleton's Annual Cyclopedia; Wilson's Division and Reunion; Contemporary Peri- 
odicals and Newspapers; T. N. Page's Old South; Curry's Southern States. 



572 History of the United States. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. What did President Hayes do for the South? 2. Tejl of 
the strife between labor and capital. 3. Of the railroad strike. 4. Of the 
Mississippi jetties. 5. When did the Government resume the payment of its 
debts in gold? 6. Who was next elected President ? 7. Tell of his sad death. 
8. When was the Yorktown celebration ? 9. What events of 1883 and 1883 
are mentioned? 10. Who was elected President in 1884? 11. Describe the 
labor troubles of this administration, and tell about the anarchists. 12. What 
disasters happened in 1886? 13. Who:svas elected President in 1888 and what 
new States were admitted in 1889 ? 14. Tell what you can of the tariff and 
the currency. 15. Who was the next President? 16. What great Fair took 
place in 1893 ? 17. Tell of the great labor strikes of 1893 and 1894. 



CHAPTER LXXXVIII. 

PROGRESS SINCE 1850. 

Development of the Country. — We must not close this His- 
tory of our country without taking a comprehensive view of 
its development in material wealth, in art and literature, 
and in the many appliances unknown forty years ago, which 
have so much increased the comfort of living, and opened 
so many new employments, especially to women. We have 
not paused to do this since 1850, and we find great changes 
and improvements in many directions. Material develop- 
ment first claims attention. Great finds of gold in Colorado 
and Nevada in 1852 increased the quantity of the precious 
metal. Coal and iron mining, salt making, and manufac- 
tures also increased largely from 1850 to 1860. The Civil 
War put a stop to all progress south of the Potomac, and 
diverted Northern industries into those channels more par- 
ticularly adapted to the prosecution of the war. The pro- 
ducing of war materials, building of gunboats, manufac- 
turing of clothing, shoes, and all appliances required by the 
large Federal armies, supplied work and pay in abundance 
to Northern workmen and contractors from 1861 to 1865. 

Wonderful Recuperation of the South. — The close of the 
war found the Northern States and people prosperous and 
wealthy, while the South for ten years later became con- 
stantly more impoverished. The recovery of this crushed 
and devastated section, within twenty years, has been most 
remarkable. The recovery of France from the losses and 
reverses of the Franco-Prussian War in 1872 amazed the 




NEW INVENTIONS CONTRASTED WITH THE OLD. 

1.— Old stage coach. 2. Interior of a drawing-room car. 3. The telephone. 4. The phono- 
graph. 5. The telegraph. 6. The first printing press. 7. Hoe perfecting press. 8. Bob-tail 
mule car. 9. Electric street car. 10. Harvesting with scythe and sickle. H. Combined reaper 
and blndet. 



Progress Since 1850. 573 

world. The Southern States suffered far*more than France, 
and have recuperated still more wonderfully. The fortitude 
and patience with which they bore up under their manifold 
calamities, and the capacity they have shown for restoring 
their shattered fortunes and re-establishing their State gov- 
ernments, must command the respect even of those most 
hostile to them. Rid of the burden of caring for and sup- 
porting the negroes incapable of work during childhood, 
sickness, and old age, the southern whites were at liberty to 
devote the proceeds of their efforts to the building up of their 
fortunes, and developing the resources of their country. 
The results of their labors are the best evidence of their suc- 
cess. The attention of the whole Republic was first drawn 
to this Southern development by Industrial Exhibitions held 
at Louisville and Atlanta in 1881, but more especially by a 
great Exposition at New Orleans in 1884, where the display 
of Southern minerals, manufactures, and agricultural pro- 
ducts astonished the crowds of visitors. 

Population and Industry. — The population of the South 
has increased from 9 to 40 per cent, between 1880 and 1890, 
and cities and towns have sprung up like magic. In 1890, 
almost as much iron was produced in the South as in the 
whole United States in 1870, and more than twice as much 
bituminous coal was mined as all the States produced in 
1860. Three-fourths of the cotton used in the world is 
grown in the Southern States, where mills for manufactur- 
ing it are gradually but constantly increasing in number. 
The timber resources of the section challenge admiration 
for their vastness and variety, more than half the merchant- 
able timbers in the Union being now in the southern forests. 
The railroads of the South have nearly doubled: and the 
assessed property has increased $342,193,583 in ten years. 
Much of this increase is due to the fact that, not confining 
their industry to the greater crops and wide plantations, 
the people have wisely turned their attention to smaller 
things, and have gone to raising fruits, vegetables, flowers, 
and live stock for the city markets. 

Railroads. — The principal factors which have promoted 
these changes and developments, are steam, which had begun 
to do wonders sixty years ago, and electricity, the use of 
which belongs almost entirely to the last twenty-five years. 



574 History of the United States. 

In 1850 there were not quite 9,000 miles of railroads in the 
United States: in 1890 there were more than 130,000 miles. 
These extended roads are built and operated not by limited, 
local companies, but by corporations which run and control 
thousands of miles under one system. This is, in some re- 
spects, an advantage; it makes travel and transportation 
more rapid, and sometimes, when different railroad com- 
panies fall out, cheaper. But it has also great disadvan- 
tages, as it enormously increases the wealth and power of 
the few owners and officers of the roads. This monopoly 
of money and authority excites discontent and envy in the 
hard-worked and often under-paid employees, and leads to 
the disastrous railroad strikes of which you have read. 

Steam. — The use of steam in running mills and fire en- 
gines and in operating all sorts of farming and manufac- 
turing machines, and even in the homely departments of 
cooking and laundry work, has lessened the toil and added 
to the profits of many different handicrafts. This is espe- 
cially true in the department of printing. The steam print- 
ing presses invented by Richard Hoe of New York are now 
used in all the great publishing houses and newspaper 
offices in this country, and are widely employed in Europe. 
One of these presses can turn out more printed pages in an 
hour than scores of hand presses could in a day. And this 
facility of work has made possible the huge daily and Sun- 
day newspapers and the multitude of cheap books. There 
are to-day more than twelve thousand newspapers and maga- 
zines published in the United States, and some of the lead- 
ing daily papers contain as much reading as a good sized 
book. 

Electricity. — The wonders accomplished by electricity 
began with the magnetic telegraph, and have extended into 
various departments of industry. With the telephone we 
talk to people many miles away: with the phonograph we 
store up, to examine at leisure, speeches, songs, concerts, 
any and every sound we desire to reproduce at a moment's 
notice. The lighting of houses and streets by gas has been 
greatly superseded by electric lights, which resemble the 
brilliancy of the sun more than any other artificial illumi- 
nation. It is to be hoped that flooding the alleys and slums 
of the great cities with this penetrating light may lessen 




KEW INVENTIONS CONTRASTED WITH THE OLD. 
1. The first passenger train. 2. The fast express. 3. The coming air-ship. 4. Balloon 
5. Three-deck wooden war-ship. 6. The latest Ironclad. 7. A passenger steamer. S.Fulton's 
first steamboat. 9. Wooden cannon of the 15th century. 10. Modern gun that throws a 400- 
pound projectile twelve miles. U. Flint-lock rifle. 12. Sectional view of magazine rifle 
13. The anvil and sledge. 14. The steam trip-hammer. 



Progress Since 1850. 575 

crime and evil deeds done by those who love darkness 
rather than light. In the physician's office and the hos- 
pital, electricity is found to be a powerful and beneficent 
agent for relieving suffering. As a motive power for cars 
and boats, it bids fair to take the place of steam, in all cases 
where the greater cost of using it can be borne. Our gas 
jets are lighted, our bells rung, our organs played, our sew- 
ing machines kept running, all by this wonderful power 
unknown to our grandparents, who thought a lucifer match 
a marvel of scientific achievement, and a Franklin stove an 
admirable producer of heat. 

Increase of Schools and Colleges. — These various results 
of patient investigation and inventive genius are both the 
result and the cause of increased educational facilities 
throughout the country. To the historic and time-honored 
Harvard, William and Mary, Yale, Princeton, and the half 
dozen more colleges of Colonial and Revolutionary times, 
others have been added, until there are now more than 360 
colleges and universities. Some of these are intended more 
especially to teach the sciences, some for electrical training 
alone. Others give a broad range of studies from which a 
student may select a particular course. Some are entirely 
for women. Some admit men and women to the same clases: 
whilst others have established what are known as "Annexes " 
where young women may follow the same course of study as 
the male students, and receive the college degrees, if they 
pass the required examinations. Preparatory education in 
private and public schools has of necessity progressed in 
much the same proportion. There is now no part of the 
United States where any one, white, negro, or Indian, may 
not receive the rudiments of a good English education, if he 
will only take the trouble to go to the public school, and 
learn the lessons there taught. In this direction, also, the 
Southern States have shown great activity. In thirteen 
years, up to 1890, the school fund of the South increased 
nearly $12,000,000, almost a million a year, and it is worthy 
of notice that while the negroes pay only about one-thirtieth 
of this tax they receive nearly one-half the schooling which 
it provides. 

The South in Early Literature. — From the first the South- 
ern people wrote and published less than their countrymen 



576 History of the United States. 

at the North. While they gave to the Republic many of its 
greatest statesmen, and the documents which shaped its 
destiny— "The Bill of Rights," "The Declaration of Inde- 
pendence," and " The Constitution" — they produced, out- 
side of the region of politics, only a few distinguished 
writers in the early part of this century. 

American Authors from 1820 to 1860. — In the North, 
from 1820 to 1860, there had come into notice Bancroft, 
Prescott, and Morley — historians; Bryant, Longfellow, and 
Lowell — poets; Emerson and Holmes — essayists; Irving, 
Cooper, Hawthorne, and Mrs. Stowe — novelists; who, with 
many other writers in the different departments of author- 
ship, have become distinguished throughout America and 
Europe. Though not so widely known as these, there were, 
contemporary with them at the South, men and women 
equally worthy of honor and fame. Edgar A. Poe is ranked 
as the greatest American poet. Francis Scott Key, of Mary- 
land, gave to the country the " Star Spangled Banner." Ken- 
nedy, of Maryland; the Tuckers, of Virginia, William Gil- 
more Simms, of South Carolina, Mrs. Caroline Gilman, Ma- 
rion Harland, and John Easton Cooke of Virginia wrote ro- 
mances; and Augustus Longstreet of Georgia and J. P. Baldwin 
of Mississippi wrote racy sketches, which preserve to us the 
most vivid pictures of life at the South from Revolutionary 
times to the breaking out of the Civil War. Others there 
were, as Bledsoe of Virginia, Maury of Tennessee, and 
Gayarre of Louisiana, who showed what Southern intellect 
could produce in philosophy, science, and history. Many 
of the most brilliant minds still concentrated their efforts 
upon politics, and lavished, in newspaper editorials and politi- 
cal speeches, intellectual force which, if devoted to book- 
making, would have won for them enduring literary renown. 

Writings About the Civil War. — The war changed all this, 
at the South. At first, in the struggle for subsistence, 
amidst the general poverty, there seemed no leisure nor 
hope for any revival of Southern literature. But, even 
during the restrictions of the Reconstruction period, there 
appeared personal memoirs, historical writing, and other 
books worthy of the men who had so stoutly maintained 
the unequal contest from 1861 to 1865. Mr. Davis's " Rise 
and Fall of the Confederate Government," Alexander Ste- 



Progress Since 1850. 577 

phens's " War between the States," Pollard's " Lost Cause," 
with the personal narratives of Generals J. E. Johnston, 
Hood, Taylor, and other soldiers, preserve the story of the 
Civil War and the causes which led to it, in volumes which 
rank equally with the memoirs of Grant, Sherman, and 
other Federal generals, as valuable history of those times. 

A Few Southern Authors Since the War. — Debarred from 
taking active part in the national politics. Southern genius 
spread its wings for other flights. Paul Hayne of South 
Carolina, Mrs. Margaret Preston of Virginia, and Sidney 
Lanier of Georgia — perhaps the greatest American poet 
after Poe — have enriched our literature with melodious verse: 
Cable, with his powerful but partial stories of Creole life; 
Miss Murfree with her vivid pictures of the dwellers amid 
the Tennessee Mountains; Thomas Nelson Page with his pa- 
thetic and humorous stories and sketches of life in Old Vir- 
ginia and at the present day; Joel Chandler Harris with his 
delightful " Uncle Remus," along with the female novelists 
Frances Courtenay Baylor, M. G. McClelland, Christian 
Reid, Am61ie Rives and others, have placed Southern fiction 
well abreast of Howells, Miss Woolson, and the leading ro- 
mance writers at the North. Mrs. Diana Corbin in the me- 
moir of her distinguished father, Matthew F. Maury, and 
Mrs. Smedes in the tale of her father's life as depicted in 
her " Memoir of A Southern Planter," have made biography 
as charming and more instructive than romance. The "Me- 
moirs of Patrick Henry and George Mason," with the '' Let- 
ters and Times of the Tylers " by their respective descend- 
ants, are most valuable contributions to the correct history 
of our country. Time and space fail to tell you of all the 
valuable books and admirable writers who have come to the 
front during the last ten years. The principal magazines 
and periodicals show in their list of contents many South- 
ern contributors. In all departments of life and literature. 
Southern men and women are showing themselves worthy 
of their country and their race. 

Farewell Words. — In taking leave of you, my young 
countrymen and countrywomen, I must express the hope 
that each one of you will realize your responsibility towards 
the whole country, and especially to that section of it to 
which you more immediately belong; that you will perform 
37 



578 History of the United States. 

your duties faithfully as boys and girls, and make the best 
use of the opportunities and privileges which are given you 
at home and at school. If you do this now, you will in a 
few years, as men and women, exhibit the virtues and abili- 
ties of those who have so much adorned and exalted the 
history of the nation, and will show to the world that our 
country is to-day, as she has ever been since Captain John 
Smith established his colony at Jamestown in 1607, the 
home of brave, patriotic, upright men and women, who, 
walking in the fear of God and upholding the true princi- 
ples of free government, will be to all ages an honor and a 
safeguard to humanity. 

AUTHORITIES.— Grant's Personal Memoirs; Fiske's History of tlie United States; 
Appleton's Annual Cyclopedia; Wilson's Division and Reunion; Contemporary Pe- 
riodicals and Newspapers; T. N. Page's Old South; Curry's Southern States. 

QUESTIONS.— 1. Tell of the material development of the countrj-. 2. Of 
the wonderful recuperation of the South. 3. Its population and industi-y. 
4. Mention the effects of steam and electricity : the railroads ; the printing 
presses ; the telegraph ; the telephone ; the electric lights and other appliances 
of electricity. 5. What has been the increase in schools and colleges ? 6. In 
the primary and public schools ? 7. What stand did the South take in the 
early literature of our country ? 8. Mention the chief American writers from 
1820 to 1860. 9. The writings about the C^ivil War. 10. A few of the South- 
ern writers since the war. 11. What parting counsel is given? 



SUMMARY FOR REVIEWS AND ESSAYS. 

CIVIL WAR AND RECONSTRUCTION, 1861-1895. 
Chapters 63-88. 



Events Preceding the War : 

Effects of the John Brown raid, 1859, 346. 

Davis's resolutions, 340. 

Election in 18(50, 347. 

Abraham Lincoln in 1860, 347. 

Necessity of secession, 348. 

South Carolina secedes in 1860, 349. 

Mr. Buchanan's views, 350. 

Crittenden resolution, 350. 

Differing views of tlie country, 350. 

The Southern leaders, 351. 

Organization of the Southern Confederacy, 1861, 353. 

Jefferson Davis, 352. 

Peace Congress, 1861, 353. 

The forts in the South, 354. 

Fort Sumter garrisoned by the United States, 354. 

Lincoln's inaugural address, 355. 

The Cabinet, 356. 

Plan to reinforce Fort Sumter, 1861, 356. 

Bombardment of Fort Sumter an act of self-defence, 357. 

The struggle for Southern independence necessaiy. 358. 

Centralization and State Rights, 358. 

Slaveiy recognized by the Constitution, 358. 

Views of the Southern people, 359. 

Mr. Lincoln's views, 360. 

Slavery under the C'onfederacy, 360. 

The war not to preserve slaveiy, 360. 

Preparations and Beginning of War : 
Call for 75,000 men, 1861, 361. " 
Other States secede. 361. 

Disparity between the North and the South, 363. 
Confederate .soldiers, 362. 
Harper's Ferry and Gosport Navy Yard, 363. 
The first blood shed, 1861, 364. 
Preparations for war, 364. 
Mr. Lincoln's proclamations, 365. 
The blockade, 365. 
Immensity of the struggle, 365. 

Confederate Capital removed to Richmond, Va., 1861, 366. 
Greatness of the struggle not realized, 366. 
Difficulty of equipping the armies, 367. 
Enterprise of the South, 367. 

Events of 1861 in Virginia : 

The armies in Virginia, 369. 
First blood shed in Virginia, 369. 
Big Betliel, 370. 

[579 1 



580 History of the United States. 

Events of 1801 in Virginia — Continued: 

Union ascendancy in western Virginia, 370. 
■ Battle of llieli Mountain, 370. 
General Robert E. Lee sent to western Virginia, 370. 
General Johnston at Harper's Feri-y, 371. 
Impatience of the North, 371. 
•^ Battle of First Manassas, 1861, 371. 
" Stonewall " Jackson at Manassas, 372. 
General Kirby Smith's advance, 373. 
Rcnit of the Federal army, 373. 
Losses in the battle, 374. 
Astonishment of the Country, 374. 
Actions of the private soldiers, 375. 
Results of the battle, 375. 
Acts of the United States Congress, 376. 
Acts of the Confederate Congress, 376. 
General McClellan put in command, 376. 
Ball's Bluff, 370. 
Restriction of the press, 378. 
General T. J. Jackson, 378. 

Events of 1861 in the West and elsewhere: 
Civil war in Mis.souri, 379. 
Missouii neutral, 380. 
Kentucky's position, 380. 
Bishop Polk, 381. 
Columbus and Paducah, 383. 
East Tennessee, 382. 
* Battle of Belmont, 383. 
Arizona and New Mexico, 383. 
Southern task of resources, 383. 
McClellan supersedes General Scott, 384. 
Dupont captures Port Royal , 384. 
The Manmms at the mouth of the Mississippi, 385. 
Captain Wilkes and the Trent, 385. 
Threatened trouble with England , 386. 

Events of 1862 in the West: 
Mr. Lincoln's order, 387, 
Zollicoffer killed at Mill Spring, 387. 
Forts Henry and Donelson, 387. 
Capture of Fort Hemy, 388. 
Position of Fort Donelson, 388. 
The attack, 389. 
Gallant fighting, 389. 
Surrender of Fort Donelson, 390. 
Its results. 391. 

Battle of Pea Ridge, orElkhorn, Arkansas, 391. 
•Battle of Shiloh ; death of Albert Sidney Johnston, 392. 
End of the battle, 392. 
Fall of Island No. 10, 393. 
Forces below New Orleans. 421. 
.Federal fleet at the city, 421. 
Affairs in the city, 422. 

Fall of New Orleans ; General B. F. Butler, 422. 
Great losses of the Confederates, 423. 
Confederate conscription; Beauregard replaced by Bragg, 423. 



Summary for ttevieivs and Essays. 581 



Events of 1862 in the West— Continued : 

Effort to recover Tennessee and Kentucky, 424. 

Nathan B. Forrest, 424. 

John H. Morgan, 425. 

Bragg's advance into Kentucky, 426. 
• Battle of Richmond, Kentucky, 426. 

Capture of Louisville, 426. 

Grant at luka and Corinth, Mississippi, 426. 

Bragg at Frankfort, Kentucky, 427. 
' Battle of Perryville, 427. 

Result of the campaign, 428. 

l^resideut Davis visits Bragg's army, 428. 
' Battle of Murfreesboro, or Stone River, 428. 

Confederate success, 429. 

Fight in the centre, 429. 

Hell's Half-Acre, 480. 

Reti'eat on both sides, 430. 

Victory claimed by both sides, 431. 

Burning of Holly Springs, 431. 

Events of 1862 in Virginia: 

Jackson at Bath and Romney, 394. 

McClellan follows Johnston, 398. 
''Battle of Kerustown, 398. 

McClellan and Johnston about Yorktowii, 398. 

Fight at Williamsburg. 399. 
/-Seven Pines or Fair Oaks, 400. 

General Robert E. Lee, 400. 

Jackson in the Valley, 402. 

Defeat of Banks, 403. 

Defeat of Fremont and Shields, 403. 

Death of Ashby ; result of the campaign, 404. 

Preparations around Richmond, 404. 

Jackson summoned from the Valley, 404. 

Secrecy of the move, 405. 

Stuart's ride round McClellan, 405. 

J. E. B. Stuart, 406. 

Seven Days' Fight, 407. 

McClellan's retreat, 407. 

Malvern Hill, 408. 

Results of the Seven Days' Fight, 409. 

McClellan and Lincoln. 410, 

Pope's unpopularity, 411. 

Cedar Mountain ; Pope's army, 411. 

Jackson's capture of Manassas Junction, 412. 
^'Battle of Second Manassas, 412. 

Complete victory, 412. 

Losses on both sides, 413. 

Buruside supersedes McClellan, 415. 

"Onto Richmond," 416. 

At Fredericksburg, 416. 

13ombardment of Fredericksburg, 417, 

Disparity of forces, 417. 
^ Battle ot Fredericksburg, 418. 

Marye's Hill, 418. 

Hooker's reserves defeated, 419. 

Result of the victory, 419. 



582 History of the United States. 

On the Coast and in Maryland, 1862 : 
Stringent blockade, 394. 

Capture of Roanoke Island and other ports, 395. 
The ram Virginia. 396. 
The Virginia and the Monitor, 397. 
Federal ships in the James, 399. 
Confederate cruisers, 432. 
Lee in Maiyland, 413. 
Jackson at Harper's Feriy, 414. 
vBattle of Sharpsburg, or Antietam, 414. 
Lee's return to Virginia, 415. 

General View of the Situation in 1862 : 

Devotion of Confederate women, 420. 

Condition of the Confederacy in 1862, 432. 

West Virginia formed, 433. 

Two governments in Kentucky and Missouri, 434. 

Mr. Lincoln's view of slavery in 1861, 434. 

Change of view, 435. 

Emancipation Proclamation in 1862, 435. 

Objects of the Proclamation, 435. 

Effects of the Proclamation, 436. 

Emancipation, January 1, 1863, 436. 

War prices, 437. 

Suffering in the South, 438. 

Exchange of prisoners, 438. 

War prisons, 439. 

West Virginia admitted to the Union, 1863. 439. 
Events of 1863 in Virginia and Pennsylvania: 

Hooker in command in Virginia, 442. 

Lee's troops, 443. 

Hooker's move to Chancellorsville , 443. 

Lee's move, 443. 

Jackson's victory, 444. 

Jackson's wound, 444. 

Renewal of the battle, 445. 

Burning of the house and woods, 445. 

Sedgwick's attack, 446. 

Defeat of Hooker at Chancellorsville, 446. 

Death of Jackson, 447. 

Religion in the Army of Northern Virginia, 447. 

Lee's move north, 448. 

Ewell takes Winchester, 448. 

Orderly conduct of Lee's army, 450. 

Approach to Gettysburg, 450. 
I Battle of Gettysburg, 451. 

Second day's fight, 452. 

Third day's fight ; Pickett's charge, 453. 

End of the battle, 454. 

Return of the Confederate army to Virginia, 455. 

Effects of Gettysburg, 455. 

Losses, 455. 

A campaign of strategy, 456. 
Events of 1863 on the Coast and in the West: 

Attack on Galveston, 440. 

Capture of Galveston, 441. 

Sabiue Pass, 441. 



Summary for Reviews and Essays. 58$ 



Events of 1863 on the Coast and in the West — Continued: 
Federal advance on Charleston, 441. 
Attack and defeat, 443. 
Grant's plan to take Vicksburg in 1863, 457. 
Approach to Jackson, 457. 
Grierson's raid, 458. 
Pembeiton's movements, 458. 
Pemberton in Vicksburg, 459. 
Vicksburg besieged, 459. 
Attack from the boats and batteries, 460. 
Cave life in VicJisburg, 460. 
Famine, 460. 
The end near, 461. 
Surrender of Vicksburg, 461. 
The Confederacy cut in two, 462. 
Sherman at Jackson, 462. 
Wasting of the country, 462. 
Cavalry raids, 463. 
Morgan's raid, 464. 
Morgan's capture and escape, 464. 
Bragg at Chattanooga, 465. 
Federal success in East Tennessee, 465. 
Situation of Chattanooga, 466. 
\ Battle of Chiekamauga, 466. 
Second day's fight, 466. 
Forces and losses, 467. 
General Bragg after the battle, 468. 
Bragg's new position, 468. 
General Grant at Chattanooga, 469. 
Federal forces, 469. 
Bragg's army weakened, 470. 
Movement to flank Bragg's position, 470. 
•^Battle of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, 470. 
Results of the battle, 471. 
Condition of the armies in 1863, 472. 

Events of 1864 in the West : 

Sherman's return to Vicksburg, 474. 
Sherman at Meridian, 474. 
Forrest's victories, 474. 
Capture of Fort Pillow, 475. 
Battle of Mansfield, Louisiana, 476. 
Banks's retreat to New Orleans, 476. 
Sherman's and Johnston's armies, 485. 
Movement of the two armies, 486. 
Fight at New Hope Church, 486. 
General Polk killed, 487. 
His last days, 487. 
Sherman's advance, 487. 
Hood put in command, 488. 
Attack and defeat, 488. 
McPherson killed, 489. 
Siege of Atlanta, 489. 
Evacuation of Atlanta, 489. 
Sherman in Atlanta, 490. 
Mobile Bay held by the Federals, 490. 
Numbers on both sides, 491. 



584 History of the United States. 

Events of 1864 in the West — Continued: 
Hood's advance into Tennessee, 491. 
Forrest in Tennessee, IVIississippi, and Alabama, 492. 
Thomas sent to Tennessee, 493. 
" Battle of Franklin, 493. 
^ Battle of Nashville, 493. 
Effects, 494. 

Sherman's march to the sea, 505. 
The " Bmnmers," 506. 
Nearing Savannah, 507. 
Fall of Savannah, 508. 
Wholesale destruction in Georgia, 508. 
Price's invasion of Missouri, 508. 
Morgan's last raid and death, 509. 

Events of 1864 in Virginia : 
Kilpatrick's raid, 477. 
Grant made commander-in-chief, 477. 
Grant's plan, 477. 
Force against Richmond, 478. 
Lee's movements, 479. 
-Battles of the Wilderness, 479. 
"Lee to the rear!" 479. 
End of the battle, 480. 
The race for Spotsylvania, 480. 
The bloody angle, 481. 
Grant's continued attack, 481. 
Stuart killed at Yellow Tavern, 483. 
Move toward Richmond , 482. 
Confederate victories over Sigel and Butler, 482. 
Unsuccessful assault on Lee, 483. 
Losses, 483. 

Hunter's march up the Valley, 483. 
Attack on Petersburg, 495. 
Lee reinforces Beauregard, 495. 
Defence, 496. 
Intrenchments, 496. 
Lee's difficult task, 496. 
Supplies at the North, 497. 
Mahone's attack, 497. 
Ream's Station, 498. 
Day of humiliation and prayer, 498. 
Plan to blow up the defences, 498. 
Explosion of the mine, 499. 
Fight at the Crater, 500. 
Negro soldiers, 501. 
Surrender and losses, 501. 
Early and Sheridan, 503. 
Victory and defeat at Cedar Creek, 504. 
Sheridan's devastation of the Valley , 504. 
Grant on the James, 505. 

Events of 1864 in other places : 
Victory at Olustee, 473. 
Capture of Plymouth, North Carolina, 477. 
Confederate cruisers, 510. 
The Alabama and the Kearsarge, 510. 
Destruction of the Alabama, 510. 



Summary for Reviews and Essays. 585 



Events of 1864 in other places — Continued: 
Destruction of the Flm-ida, 511. 
Early's move into Maryland, 501. 
Battle of Monocacy Bridge, 502. 
Early before Washington, 502. 
Burning of Chambersburg, 502. 
Ke-election of Mr. Lincoln, 1864, 511. 
Peace negotiations, 512. 
Condition of the Confederacy, 512. 

Events of 1865 in North and South Carolina : 
Butler at Fort Fisher, 514. 
Teriy at Fort Fisher, 514. 
Capture of Fort Fisher, 515. 
Sherman's march from the sea, 515. 
Destraction in South Carolina, 516. 
Fall of Charleston, 517. 
Burning of Columbia, 517. 
Sherman's charge against Hampton, 518. 
Peace Conference, 519. 
Want and privation in the Soutli, 520. 

Events of 1865 in "Virginia : 

Condition of Petersburg, 514. 

Lee made commander-in-chief, 520. 

Lee's plan to leave Petersburg, 520. 

Gathering of the Federal forces in Virginia, 521. 

Assault on Fort Steadman, 522. 

Comparison of the forces, 522. 

Sheridan's victory at Five Forks, 522. 

Attack on Petei'sburg, 523. 

Evacuation of Petersburg and Richmond, 523. 

Distress and riot in Richmond, 524. 

Fire, 524. 

Mr. Lincoln's visit to Petersburg and Richmond, 525. 

Exultation at the North, 525. 

Lee's retreat, 526. 

Delay at Amelia Court House, 526. 

Grant in pursuit, 527. 

Attack at Sailor's Creek, 527. 

At Fai-mville, 528. 

At Appomattox, April 8, 1865, 528. 

Fii-st steps towards surrender, 529. 

Meeting of Grant and Lee. April 9, 1865, 529. 

The terms of surrender, 530. 

Departure of Lee and Grant, 531. 

The soldiers after the surrender, 532. 

End of the war; numbers engaged, 532. 

Mr. Lincoln's proclamation, 533. 

Assassination of President Lincoln , 533. 

Effect of the Assassination, 534. 

Fate of Booth, 534. 

Lincoln's funeral honors, 535. 

Mr. Davis after the surrender, 535. 

His capture, 535. 

Imprisonment of Mr. Davis, 536. 

Suffered for the whole South, 537. 



586 History of the United States. 

Events of 1865 in Virginia — Continued : 
His later life, 537. 
Death and interment of Mr. Davis, 537 

Reconstruction in the South, 1865-1876 : 
Condition of the country, 538. 
Courage of the Southerners in defeat, 539. 
General Lee a College President, 540. 
Submission to the laws of the Union, 540. 
Andrew Johnson's position, 540. 
The amnesty proclamation, 541. 
The Thirteenth Amendment, 541. 
Laws to regulate labor, 542. 
C'ommittee on Reconstruction appointed, 542. 
Diffea-ence between Congress and the President. 543. 
Freedmen's Bureau, 542. 
Presidential vetoes, 543. 
The Fourteenth Amendment, 543. 
Reception of the amendment, 544. 
Strife between Congress and the President, 1866, 544 
Reconstraetion Committee in 1866. 544. 
The South divided into military districts, 545. 
Bills passed in 1867, 545. 
The "ironclad oath," 546. 
Carpet-baggers and scalawags, 546. 
Power of the military governors, 546. 
Impeachment of the President in 1868, 547. 
His acquittal, 548. 
Re-admission of States in 1868, 548. 
Election of General Grant, 548. 
The Fifteenth Amendment, 548. 
Oppression of the Reconstiuction governments, 549. 
Offices filled by carpet-baggers and negroes, 549. 
Evils increased by the Freedmen's Bureau, 550. 
The Loyal Leagues, 550. 
Patient submission impossible, 551. 
Secret societies for protection, 551. 
The"KuKlux Klau," 551. 
Oppression and tyranny, 552. 
Affairs in Louisiana, 552. 
The Force Bill, 553. 
Effects of the Reconstruction rule, 554. 

Principal Events in the Country since the War : 
Atlantic telegraph, 1866, 555. 
Purchase of Alaska in 1867, 555. 
Execution of Maximilian in 1867, 555. 
Chinese embassy in 1868, 555. 

Completion of the first Pacific railroad in 1869, 556. 
Price of gold in 1869, 556. 
" Black Friday" in Wall street, 1869, 550. 
Internal Revenue, 557. 

Death of General Robert E. Lee in 1870, 557. 
Settlement of the Alabama claims, 557. 
Great fires in 1871 and 1872, 557. 
" Rings" in the large cities, 558. 
Credit mobilier, 558. 



Summary for Reviews and Essays. 587 

Principal Events in the Country since the War — Continued: 
Financial crash of 1873, 558. 
Re-election of Grant in 1872, 559. 
Whiskey frauds, 559. 

Civil Service Reform, 1871 ; Weather Bureau, 559. 
Modoc War in 1873, 560. 
Sioux War in 1876, 561. 
Centennial Exposition in 1876, 561. 
Colorado admitted to the Union in 1876, 561. 
Tilden and Hayes in 1876, 562. 
"Joint Rule," 562. 

Two governments in Louisiana and South Carolina, 562. 
Electoral votes disputed, 563. 
Electoral Commission, 563. 
Election of Hayes, 1876, 563. 
The South after Hayes's election, 565. 
Strife between labor and capital, 565. 
Railroad strilies in 1877, 565. 
The Mississippi jetties, 566. 
Resumption of specie payment in 1879, 566. 
Garfield elected President, 566. 
Shot by Guiteau in 1881, 567. 
Centennial celebration at Yorktown in 1881, 567. 
Events of 1882 and 1883, 568. 
Grover Cleveland's election in 1884, 568. 
Labor troubles, 568. 
Anarchists in 1886, 569. 
Earthquake at Charleston in 1886, 569. 
Election of Benjamin Harrison in 1888, 569. 
The tariff and the currency, 570. 
Death and interment of Jefferson Davis, 537 
Second election of Cleveland in 1892, 570. 
Columbian Exposition in 1893, 570. 
Strike in Cliicago, 571. 
Railroads stopped, 571. 

General View of the Country : 

Development of the country, 572. 

Wonderful recuperation of the South, 572. 

Population and industry, 573. 

Railroads, 573. 

Steam, 574. 

Electricity, 574. 

Inci'ease of schools and colleges, 575. 

The South in early literature, 575. 

American authors from 1820 to 1860, 576. 

Writings about the Civil War, 576. 

A few Southern authors since the War, 577. 

Farewell words, 577. 



THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE 

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776. 
The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America. 



When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people 
to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with anotlier, and 
to assume, among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to 
which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to 
the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which 
impel them to the separation. 

We hold these truths to be self-evident ; that all men are created equal ; 
that they are endowed by their Creator with cei'tain unalienable rights ; that 
among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That, to secure 
these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers 
from the consent of the governed. That, whenever any form of government 
becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to 
abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such 
principles, and organizmg its powers in such form as to them shall seem most 
likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, wll dictate, that 
governments long established should not be changed for light and transient 
causes; and, accordingly, all experience hath shown that mankind are more 
disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abol- 
ishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of 
abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design 
to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to 
throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future secu- 
rity. Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies, and such is now 
the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of govern- 
ment. The histoi-y of the present King of Great Britain is a history of re- 
peated injuries and usui-pations, all having in direct object the establishment 
of an absolute tyranny over these States. To prove this, let facts be submitted 
to a candid world : 

He has refused his assent to laws the most wholesome and necessary for 
the public good. 

He has forbidden his governors to pass laws of immediate and pressing im- 
portance, unless suspended in their operations till his assent should be ob- 
tained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them. 

He has refused to pass other laws for the accommodation of large districts 
of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of representation in 
the legislature — a right inestimable to them, and formidable to tyrants only. 

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, 
and distant from the depository of their public records, for the sole purpose of 
fatiguing them mto compliance with his measures. 

He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly for opposing, with manly 
firmness, his invasions on the rights of the people. 

He has refused, for a longtime after such dissolutions, to cause others to be 
elected, whereby the legislative powers, incapable of annihilation, have re- 
turned to the people at large for their exercise; the State remaining, in the 
mean time, exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without and convul- 
sions within. 

[588] 



Declaration of Independence. 589 

He has endoavored to prevent the population of these States ; for that pur- 
pose obstructing the laws for naturalization of foreignei's ; refusing to pass 
others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the CKjnditions of new 
appropriations of lands. 

He has obstructed the administration of justice by refusing his assent to 
laws for establishing the jucUciary powers. 

He has made judges dependent on his will alone for the tenure of their 
offices, and tlie amount and payment of their salaries. 

He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers 
to harass our people* and eat out their substance. 

He has kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies, without the con- 
sent of our legislatures. 

He has affected to render the military independent of, and superior to, the 
civil power. 

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our 
Constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his assent to their acts 
of pretended legislation: 

For (piailiMing large bodies of armed troops among us; 

For protecting them, by a mock trial, from punishment for any murders 
which they should commit on the inhabitants of these States; 

For cutting off our ti'ade with all parts of the world , 

For imposing taxes on us without our consent ; 

For depriving us, in many eases, of the benefits of trial by jury ; 

For transporting us beyond seas to be tried for pretended offences; 

For abolishing the free system of English laws in a neighboring province, 
establishing therein an arbitrary government, and enlarging its boundaries, so 
as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing che same 
absolute rule into these colonies ; 

For taking away our charters, abolishing our most valuable laws, and alter- 
uig, fundamentallj', the forms of our governments ; 

For suspending our own legislatures, and declaring themselves inve.stedwith 
power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever. 

He has abdicated govermnent here by declaring us out of his protection, and 
waging war against us. 

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and de- 
stroj'ed the lives of our people. 

He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to com- 
plete the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circum- 
stances of cruelty and perfidy, scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, 
and totally imworthy the head of a civilized nation. 

He has constrained our fellow-citizens, taken captive on the high seas, to 
bear arms against their country, to become the executioners of their friends and 
brethren, or to fall themselves by their hands. 

He has excited domestic insm-rections amongst us, and has endeavored to 
bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers the merciless Indian savages, whose 
known rule of warfare is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes, and 
conditions. 

In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in the 
most humble terms ; our repeated petitions have been answered only by re- 
peated iujuiy. A prince whoso character is thus marked by every act which 
may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people. 

Nor havciwe been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. AVe have 
warned them, from time to time, of attempts by their legislature to extend an 
imwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circum- 
stances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their 
native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them, bj-the ties of our 
gommon kindred, to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably inter- 



590 History of the United States. 

rupt our connections and correspondence. They, too, have been deaf to the 
voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquissce in the ne- 
cessity which denovmces our separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of 
mankind — enemies in war; in peace, friends. 

We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America, in 
General Congress assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for 
the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name and by authority of the good 
people of these colonies, solemnly publish and declare. That these united colo- 
nies are, and of right ought to be. Free and Independent States; that they 
are absolved from all allegiance to the British crown, and that all political con- 
nection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, to- 
tally dissolved; and that, as Free and Independent States, they have full power 
to le^'y war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do 
all other acts and things which Independent States may of right do. And for 
the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine 
Pkovidence, we mutually pledge to each other oui- lives, our fortunes, and our 
sacred honor. 

JOHN HANCOCK. 

New Hampshire. — Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton. 

Massachusetts Bay. — Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, 
Elbridge Gerry. 

Rhode Island, Etc. — Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery. 

Connecticut. — Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, 
Oliver Wolcott. 

New York. — William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis 
Morris. 

New Jersey. — Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, 
John Hart, Abraham Clark. 

Pennsylvania. — Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John 
Moiton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George 
Ross. 

Delaware. — Csesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas M'Kean. 

Maryland.— Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll 
of CarroUton. 

Virginia. — George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin 
Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton. 

North Carolina. — William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn. 

South Carolina. — Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, 
Jr., Arthur Middleton. 

Geokgla. — Button Gwinnett, Lymaji Hall, George Walton. 



CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 
OF AMERICA. 



"We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, 
establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide for the common defence, 
promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves 
and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United 
States of America. 

ARTICLE I. Section 1. — 7\.ll legislative powers herein granted shall be 
vested in a Congress of the United States ; which shall consist of a Senate and 
House of Representatives. 

Section 2. — 1. The House of Representatives shall be composed of mem- 
bers chosen every second year by the people of the several States ; and the 
electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the 
most numerous branch of the State legislature. 

2. No person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the 
age of twenty-flve years, and been seven years a citizen of the United States, 
and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that State in which he 
shall be chosen. 

3. Representatives and direct taxes shall be apijortioned among the several 
States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective 
numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole number of free 
persons, including those bound to service for a term of years, and excluding 
Indians not taxed, three-fifths of all other persons. The actual enumeration 
shall be made within three years after the first meeting of the Congress of the 
United States, and within every subsequent term of ten years, in such manner 
as they shall by law direct. The number of Representatives shall not exceed 
one for every thirty thousand, but each State shall have at least one Repre- 
sentative ; and until such enumeration shall be made, the State of New Hamp- 
shire shall be entitled to choose three; Massachusetts, eight; Rhode Island 
and Providence Plantations, one; Connecticut, five; New York, six; New 
Jersey, four; Pennsylvania, eight; Delaware, one; Maryland, six; Virginia, 
ten; North Carolina, five; South Carolina, five; and Georgia, three. 

4. When vacancies happen in the representation from any State, the execu- 
tive authority thereof shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies. 

5. The House of Representatives shall choose their Speaker and other offi- 
cers, and shall have the sole power of impeachment. 

Section 3. — 1. The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two 
Senators from each State, chosen by the legislature thereof, for six years ; and 
each Senator shall have one vote. 

2. Immediately after they shall be assembled in consequence of the first elec- 
tion, they shall be divided as equally as may be, into three classes. The seats of 
the Senators of the first class shall be vacated at the expiration of the second 
year, of the second class at the expiration of the fourth year, and of the third 
class at the expiration of the sixth year, so that one-third may be chosen every 
second year; and if vacancies happen, by resignation or otherwise, during the 
recess of the legislature of any State, the Executive thereof may make tem- 
porary appointments vmtil the next meeting of the legislature, which shall then 
fill such vacancies. 

3. No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the age of 
thirty years, and been nine years a citizen of the United States, and who shaU 
not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen. 

[591 J 



592 History of the United States. 

4. The Vice-President of the United States shall be President of the Sen- 
ate, but shall have no vote, unless they be equally divided. 

5. The Senate shall choose their other officers, and also a president pro 
tempore, in the absence of the Vice-President, or when he shall exercise the 
office of President of the United States. 

6. The Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments. When 
sitting for that purpose, they shall be on oath or affirmation. When the Presi- 
dent of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside ; and no per- 
son shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of the members 
present. •» 

7. Judgment in eases of impeachment shall not extend further than to 
removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, 
trust, or profit, mider the United States ; but the party convicted shall never- 
theless be liable and subject to indictment, trial, judgment, and punishment, 
according to law. 

Section 4. — 1. The times, places, and manner of holding elections for Sen- 
ators and Representatives shall be prescribed in each State by the legislatm-e 
thereof ; but the Congress may, at any time, by law, make or alter such regu- 
lation, except as to the places of choosing Senators. 

3. The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meet- 
ing shall be on the flxst JMonday in December, unless they shall by law appoint 
a different day. 

Section 5. — 1. Each House shall be the judge of the elections, returns, and 
qualifications of its ovni members, and a majority of each shall constitute a 
quorum to do business ; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, 
and may be authorized to compel the attendance of absent members in such 
manner and under such penalties as each House may provide. 

2. Each House may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its mem- 
bers for disorderly behavior, and, with tlie concurrence of two-thirds, expel a 
member. 

3. Each House shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and from time to time 
publish the same, excepting such parts as may in their judgment require 
secrecy ; and the yeas and nays of the members of either House, on any 
question, shall, at the desire of one-fifth of those present, be entered on the 
journal. 

4. Neither House, during the session of Congress, shall, without the con- 
sent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other place 
than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting. 

Section G. — 1. The Senators and Representatives shall receive a compensa- 
tion for their services, to be ascertamed by law, and paid out of the Treasury 
of the United States. They shall, in all cases except treason, felony, and 
breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance at the 
session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the 
same ; and for any speech or debate in either House, they shall not be ques- 
tioned in any other place. 

2. No Senator or Representative shall, during the time for which he was 
elected, be appointed to any civil office under the authoritj' of the United States 
which shall have been created, or the emoluments whereof shall have been in- 
creased, during such time ; and no person holding any office under the United 
States shall be a member of either House during his continuance in office. 

Section 7. — 1. All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of 
Representatives ; but the Senate may propose or concur with amendments, as 
on other bills. 

2. Every bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the 
Senate, shall, before it become a law, be presented to the President of the 
United States ; if he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it with 
his objections to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter 



Constitution of the United States. 593 

the objectiona at large on their journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If, after 
such recoiLsidt'idtion, two-thirds of that House shall agree to pass the bill, it 
shall be sent, together with the objections, to the other House, by which it shall 
likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two-thirds of that House, it shall 
become a law. But in all such cases the votes of both Houses shall be det^^r- 
miued by yeas and nays, and the names of the persons voting for and against 
the bill shall be entered on the journal of each House respectively. If any bill 
shall not be returned by the President within ten days (Sundays excepted) 
after it shall have been presented to him, the same shall be a law, in like man- 
ner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress, by their adjournment, prevent 
its return, in which case it shall not be a law. 

3. Eveiy order, resolution, or vote, to which the concurrence of the Senat<3 
and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a question of ad- 
jomiiment) shall be presented to the President of the United States, and be- 
fore the same shall take effect shall be approved by him, or, being disapproved 
by him, shall be re-passed by two-thirds of the Senate and House of Repre- 
sentatives, according to the rules and limitations prescribed in the case of a 
bill. 

Section 8. — The Congress shall have power — 

I. To lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises, to pay the debts 
and provide for the common defence and general welfare of the United States ; 
but all duties, imposts, and excises shall be uniform throughout the United 
States ; 

2. To borrow money on the credit of the United States ; 

3. To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several 
States, and with the Indian tribes ; 

4. To establish a uniform rule of naturalization, and uniform laws on the 
subject of bankruptcy throughout the United States ; 

5. To coin money, regulate the value thereof and of foreign coin, and fix 
the standard of weights and measures ; 

6. To provide for the pmiishment of counterfeiting the securities and cur- 
rent coin of the United States ; 

7. To establish post-offices and post-roads ; 

8. To promote the progress of science and iiseful arts, by securing for lim- 
ited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective 
writings and discoveries ; 

9. To constitute tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court ; 

10. To define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high seas, 
and offences against the law of nations ; 

II. To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules 
concerning captures on land and water ; 

12. To raise and suppoit armies; but no appropriation of money to that use 
shall be for a longer term than two years ; 

13. To provide and maintain a navy ; 

14. To make rules for the government and regulation of the land and naval 
forces ; 

15. To provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the Union, 
suppress insurrection, and repel invasions ; 

16. To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining the militia, and for 
governing such part of them as may be employed in the service of the United 
States, reserving to the States respectively the appointment of the officers and 
the authority of training the militia according to the discipline prescribed by 
Congress ; 

17. To exercise exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever over such dis- 
trict (not exceeding ten miles square) as may, by cession of particular States 
and the acceptance of Congress, become the seat of the government of the 
United States, and to exercise like authority over all places purchased by the 

38 



594 History of the United States. 

consent of the legislature of the State in which the same shall be, for the erec- 
tion of forts, magazines, arsenals, docli-yards, and other needful buildings ; and, 

18. To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into 
execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this Constitu- 
tion iu the government of the United States, or in any department or officer 
thereof. 

Section 9. — 1. The migration or importation of such persons as any of the 
States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited 1^ the 
Congress prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a tax or 
duty may be imposed on such importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each 
person. 

2. The privilege of the writ of habeai^ carpus shall not be suspended, unless 
when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it. 

3. No bill of attainder or ex jMJfit facto law shall be passed. 

4. No capitation or other direct tax shall be laid, luiless in proportion to the 
census or enumeration hereinbefore directed to be taken. 

5. No tax or duty shall be laid on articles exported from any State. No 
preference shall be given by any regulation of commerce or revenue to the 
ports of one State over those of another ; nor shall vessels bound to or from 
one State be obliged to enter, clear, or pay duties in another. 

6. No money 'shall be drawn from the treasury but in consequence of appro- 
priations made by law 5 and a regular statement and accoimt of the receipts 
and expenditures of all public money shall be published from time to time. 

7. No title of nobility shall be granted by the United States ; and no person 
holding any office of profit or trust under them, shall, without the consent of 
the Congress, accept of any present, (emolument, office, or title, of any kind 
whatever, from any king, prince, or foreign state. 

Section 10. — 1. No State shall enter into any treaty, alliance, or confedera- 
tion ; grant letters of marque and reprisal ; coin money ; emit bills of credit ; 
make anything but gold and silver coin a tender in payment of debts ; pass 
any bill of attainder, ex post facto law, or law impairing the obligation of con- 
tracts, or grant any title of nobility. 

2. No State shall, without the consent of the Congress, lay any imposts or 
duties on imports or exports except what may be absolutely necessary for exe- 
cuting its inspection laws ; and the net produce of all duties and imposts laid 
by any State on imports or exports, shall be for the use of the Treasury of the 
United States ; and all such laws shall be subject to the revision and control 
of the Congiess. No State shall, without the consent of Congress, lay any 
duty of tonnage, keep troops or ships of war in time of peace, enter into any 
agreement or compact with another State or with a foreign power, or engage 
in war, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent danger as will not admit 
of delay. 

ARTICLE II. Section 1. — 1. The executive power shall be vested in a 
President of the United States of America. He shall hold his office during the 
term of four years, and, together with the Vice-President, chosen for the same 
term, be elected as follows : 

2. Each State shall appoint, in such manner as the legislature thereof may 
dire(^t, a number of Electors equal to the whole number of Senators and Rep- 
resentatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress ; but no Sen- 
ator or Representative, or person holding an office of trust or profit under the 
United States, shall be appointed an Elector. 

Clause 3 has been superceded by the 12th Article of Amendments. 

4. The Congress may determine the time of choosing the Electors, and the 
day on which they shall give their votes ; which day shall be the same through- 
out the United States. 

5. No per.son, except a natural-born citizen, or a citizen of the United States 
at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the office 



Constitution of the United States. 595 

of President, neither shall any person be eligible to that office who shall not 
have attained to the age of thirty-five years, and been fourteen years a resident 
within the United States. 

6. In case of the removal of the President from office, or of his death, resig- 
nation, or inability to discharge the powers and duties of said office, the same 
shall devolve on the Vice-President ; and the Congress may by law provide for 
the case of removal, death, resignation, or inability, both of the President and 
Viee-President, declaring what officer shall then act as President, and such 
officer shall act accordingly, until the disability be removed or a President 
shall be elected. 

7. The President shall, at stated times, receive for his services a compensation, 
which shall neither be increased nor diminished durmg the period for which he 
shall have been elected, and he shall not receive within that period any other 
emolument from the United States, or any of them. 

8. Before he enter on the execution of his office, he shall take the following 
oath cr affirmation : 

' I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of 
President of the United States, and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, 
protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States." 

Section 2. — 1. The President shall be commander-in-chief of the army and 
navy of the United States, and of the militia of the several States when called 
into the actual service of the United States; he may require the opinion, in 
writing, of the principal officer in <?ach of the executive departments, upon any 
subject relating to the duties of their respective offices, and he shall have power 
to grant reprieves and pardons for offences against the United States, except in 
cases of impeachment. 

2. He shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, 
to make treaties, provided two-thirds of the Senators present concur ; and he 
shall nominate, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall 
appoint Embassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the 
Supreme Court, and all other officers of the United States, whose appointments 
arc not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by law; 
but the Congress may l>y law vest the appointment of such inferior officers as 
they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of law, or in the heads 
of Departments. 

8. The President shall have power to fill up all vacancies that may happen 
during the recess of the Senate, by granting commissions which shall expire at 
the end of their next session. 

Section 8. — He shall, from time to time, give to the Congress information 
of the state of the Union, and recommend to their consideration such measures 
as he shall judge necessary and expedient ; ho may, on extraordinary occasions, 
convene both Houses, or either of them, and in case of disagreement between 
them with respect to the time of adjournment, he may adjourn them to such 
time as he shall think proper, he shall receive Embassadors and other public 
Ministers ; he shall take care that the laws be faithfully execjuted, and shall 
commission all the officers of the United States. 

Section 4. — The President, Vice-President, and all civil officers of the United 
States, shall he removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, 
treason, l)ribeiy, or other high crimes and misdemeanors. 

ARTICLE III. Section 1.— The judicial power of the United States shall 
be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the CJongress 
may from time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the Supreme 
and inferior Courts, shall hold their offices during good behavior, and shall, at 
stated times, receive for their services a compensation which shall not be 
diminished during their continuance in office. 

Section 2.— 1. The judicial power shall extend to all cases in law and equity 
arising under this Constitution, the laws of the United States, and treaties 



596 History of tJie United States. 

made, or which shall be made, under their authority ; to all cases affecting 
Embassadors, other public Ministers, and Consuls; to all cases of admiralty 
and maritime jurisdiction ; to controversies to which the United States shall 
be a party ; to controversies between two or more States ; between a State and 
citizens of anotlier State : between citizens of different States ; between citizens 
of the same State claiming lands under grants of different States ; and between 
a State, or the citizens thereof, and foreign states, citizens, or subjects. 

2. In all cases affecting Embassadors, other public Ministers, and Consuls, 
and those in which a State shall ))e a party, the Supreme Court shall have 
original jurisdiction. In all the other cases before mentioneil, the Supreme 
Court shall have appellate jurisdiction, both as to law and fact, with such 
exceptions and under such regulations as the C^ongress shall make. 

3. The trial of all crimes, except in cases of impeachment, shall be by jury; 
and such trial shall be held in the State where the said crimes shall have been 
committed; but when not committed within any State, the trial shall be at 
such place or places as the Congress may l)y law have directed. 

Section 3. — 1. Treason against the United States shall consist only in levy- 
ing war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and 
comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason unless on the testimony of 
two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open court. 

2. The Congress shall have power to declare the punishment of treason, but 
no attainder of treason shall work corruption of blood, or forfeiture, except 
during the life of the person attainted. 

ARTICLE IV. Section 1.— Full faith and credit shall be given in each 
State to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other State. 
And the Congress may, by general laws, prescribe the manner in which such 
acts, records, and proceedings shall be proved, and the effect thereof. 

Seotion 2. — 1. The citizens of each State shall be entitled to all privileges 
and immunities of citizens of tlie several States. 

2. A person charged in any State with treason, felonj-, or other crime, who 
shall flee from justice, and be found in another State, shall, on demand of the 
executive authority of the State from which he fled, Ix) delivered up, to be 
removed to the State having jurisdiction of the crime. 

3. No person held to service or labor in one State, undei' the laws thereof, 
escaping into another, shall, in consequence of any law or regulation therein, 
be discharged from such sei-vice or laljor, but shall be delivered up on claim of 
the party to whom such service or labor may be due. 

Section 3.^ — 1. New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union ; 
but no new State shall be formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any other 
State; nor any State be formed by the junction of two or more States, or parts 
of States, without the consent of the legislatures of the States concerned as 
well as of the Congress. 

2. The Congress shall have power to dispose of and make all needful rules 
and regulations, respecting the territoiy or other property belonging to the 
United States; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as to 
prejudice any claims of the United States or of any jiarticular State. 

Section 4. — The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union 
a republican form of government, and shall protect each of them against inva- 
sion; and, on application of the legislature, or of the Executive (when the legis- 
lature cannot bo convened) against domestic violence. 

ARTICLE v.— The Congress, whenever two-thirds of both Houses shall 
deem it necessaiy, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the 
application of the legislatures of two-thirds of the several States, shall call a 
convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to 
all intents and purposes as part of this Constitution, when ratified hy the legis- 
latures of three-fourths of the several States, or by conventions in three-fourths 
thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the 



Constitution of the United States. 597 

Congress ; provided that uo Amendiiieut whifh may be made prior to the year 
one thou'sand eight hundred and eight shall in any manner aflfeet the first and 
fourth clauses in the ninth section of thfl first article ; and that no State, with- 
out its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the iSeuate. 

ARTICLE VI. — 1. All debts eontracte^I and engagements entered into, be- 
fore the adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United 
States under this Constitution as under the Confederation. 

2. This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made 
in pursuance thereof, and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the 
authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land: and the 
judges in every State shall be boimd thereby, anything in the Constitution or 
laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding. 

3. The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the members of 
the several State legislatures, and all executive and judicial officers, both of the 
United States and of the several Stiites, shall be bound by oath or affirmation 
to support this C'onstitutiou ; but no religious test shall ever be required as a 
qualification to any office or public trust under the United States. 

ARTICLE VII. — The ratification of the C'onventions of nine States shall be 
sufficient for the establishment of this C^onstitution between the States so rati- 
fying the same, 

AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION. 

ARTICLE 1. — Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of 
religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof ; or abridging the freedom of 
speech or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and 
to petition the government for a redress of grievances. 

ARTICLE II. — A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a 
free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. 

ARTICLE III. — No soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered in any house 
without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be 
prescribed by law. 

ARTICLE IV. — The right of the people to be secure in their persons, 
houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall 
not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, sup- 
ported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be 
searched, and the persons or things to be seized. 

ARTICLE V.^ — No person shall be held to answer for a capital or otherwise 
infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except 
in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia when in actual ser- 
vice in time of war or public danger ; nor shall any person be subject for the same 
offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb ; nor shall be compelled in 
any criminal case to be a witness against himself; nor be deprived of life, lib- 
erty, or property, without due process of law ; nor shall private property be 
taken for public use without just compensation. 

ARTICLE VI. — In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the 
right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district 
wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been 
previously ascei^tained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of 
the accusation ; to be confronted with the witn<isses against him ; to have com- 
pulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor , and to have the assistance 
of coimsel for his defence. 

ARTICLE VII. — In suits at common law where the value in controversy 
shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by juiy shall l^e preserved, and 
no fact tried by a jury shall be othenvise re-examined in any Court of the 
United States, than according to the rules of the common law. 



598 History of the United States. 

ARTICLE VIII. — Excessive bail shall not be requii-ed, nor excessive fines 
imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. 

ARTICLE IX. — The enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights shall 
not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. 

ARTICLE X. — The powers not delegated to the United States by the Con- 
stitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respec- 
tively, or to the people. 

ARTICLE XI. — The judicial jjower of the United States shall not be con- 
strued to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against 
one of the United States hy citizens of another State, or by citizens or subjects 
of any foreign state. 

ARTIC^LE XII. — The Electors shall meet in their respective States, and vote 
by ballot for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be 
an inhabitant of the same State with themselves ; they shall name in their 
ballots the person voted for as President, and in distinct ballots the person 
voted for as Vice-President, and they shall make distinct lists of all persons 
voted for as President, and of all persons voted for as Vice-President, and of 
the number of votes for each, which lists they shall sign and certify, and 
transmit sealed to the seat of the government of the United States, directed to 
the President of the Senate. The President of the Senate shall, in the pres- 
ence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the certificates, and 
the votes shall then be counted; the person having the greatest number of 
votes for President shall be the President, if such number be a majority of the 
whole number ot Electors appointed ; and if no person have such majority, 
then from the persons having the highest numbers, not exceeding three, on the 
list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall choose 
immediately, by ballot, the President. But in choosing the President, the 
votes shall be taken by States, the representation from each State having one 
vote ; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a mem1)er or members from 
two-thirds of th(^ States, and a majority of all the States shall be necessary to 
a choice. And if the Hoiise or Representatives shall not choose a President, 
whenever the? right of choice .shall devolve xipon them, before the fourth day 
of March iiext following, then the Vice-President shall act as President, as in 
the case of the death or other constitutional disability of the President. The 
person having the greatest number of votes as Vice-President shall be the 
Vice-President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors 
appointed ; and if no person have a majority, then from the two highest num- 
bers on the list the Senate shall clioose the Vice-President ; a quorum for the 
purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number of Senators, and a 
majority of the whole number shall be neeessaiy to a choice. But no person 
constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of 
Vice-President of the United States. 

ARTICLE XIII. — 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a 
punishment for crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall 
exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction. 

2. Congi-ess shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legisla- 
tion. 

ARTICLE XIV. — 1. All persons bom or naturalized in the United States, 
and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of 
the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which 
shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States ; nor 
shall any State deprive any person of life, libertjs or property, without due 
process of law, nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protec- 
tion of the laws. 

2. Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according 
to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each 
State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election 



Constitution of the United States. 599 

for the choice of Electors for President and Vice-President of the United States, 
Representatives in Congress, tiie executive and judicial officers of a State, or 
the members of the legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabi- 
tants of such State, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United 
States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion or other 
crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion 
which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of 
male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State. 

3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or Elector of 
President or Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the 
United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a 
member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of 
any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to sup- 
port the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection 
or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. 
But Congress may, by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such 
disability. 

4. The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, 
including debts inciUTed for payment of pensions and bounties for services in 
suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither 
the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation in- 
curred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any 
claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave ; but all such debts, obliga- 
tions, and claims shall be held illegal and void. 

5. The (Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the 
provisions of this article. 

ARTICLE XV.— 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall 
not be denied or abi'idged by the United States, or by any State, on account of 
race, color, or previous condition of servitude. 

2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legis- 
lation. 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS AND MAPS, 



A. 

Adams, Joliii, 251. 

Adams, John Qixiney, 283. 

Adams, Wirt, Biig.-Geu. C. S. A., 

488. 
" A Fair Mark— Slioot! " 62. 
vVlamo, Tlie, 301. 
Alexander, E. P., Maj.-Gen. C. S. A., 

479. 
Anderson, G. T., Brig.-Gen. C. S. A., 

452. 
Anderson, J. P., Maj.-Gen. C. 8. A., 

473. 
Anderson, R. H. , Lieut. -Gen. C. S. 

A., 446. 
Anderson, Robert, Maj.-Gen. U. S. 

A., 381. 
Armistead, L. A., Brig.-Gen. C. S. 

A., 456. 
Army at Valley Forge, 189. 
Asliby, Turner, Brig.-Gen. C. S. A., 

404. 
Atlanta and vicinity (map), 485. 
Atlantic cable, 332. 
Attacked by Indians, 194. 
Averill, W. W., Maj.-Gen. U. S. A., 

471. 

B. 

Banks, N. P., Maj.-Gen. IT. S. A., 

476. 
Barnes, J. K., Maj.-Gen. U. S. A., 

538. 
Bate, W. B., Maj.-Gen. C. S. A., 469. 
Battle-fields in the South (map), 209. 
Battle of King's Mountain, 211. 
Battle of Murfreesboro, 430. 
Battle of New Orleans, 273. 
Beauregard, P. G. T. , Lieut. -Gen. C. 

S. A., 357. 
Bee, BarnardE., Brig.-Gen. V. S. A., 

372. 
Bennington, 185. 
Bienville, 121. 
Birthplace of Webster, 288. 
Black Hawk, 291. 
Blair, F. P., Jr., Maj.-Gen. U. S. A., 

462. 
Bloody Run, 64. 

[ 



Bombardment of Port Roj^al, 384. 

Bonham, M. L., Brig.-Gen. C. S. A., 
498. 

Boone, Daniel, 135. 

Boone's daughter seized by Indians, 
149. 

Boone's Fort, 149. 

Bragg, Braxton, Gen. C. S. A., 364. 

Breckinridge, John C. , Vice-Presi- 
dent with Buchanan, Secretary 
of War in Confederate Cabinet, 
Maj.-Gen. C. S. A., 467. 

Brooke, John Mercer, Com. C. S. N., 
396. 

Brooke's deep-sea sounding appara- 
tus, 330. 

Buchanan, Franklin, Admiral C. S, 
K,491. 

Buckner, S. B., Lieut. -Gen. C. S. A.„ 
466. 

Buford, A., Brig.-Gen., C. S. A., 538. 

Bunker Hill (map), 163. 

Bunker Hill Monument, 165. 

Burning of Holly Springs, 432. 

Buruside, A. E., Maj.-Gen. U. S. A.,. 
416. 

Butler. B. F., Maj.-Gen. U. S. A.. 423. 

Butler, M. C, Maj.-Gen, C. S. A., 508, 



Cabot, 12. 

Calhoun, John Caldwell, 285. 

Capitol Square at Richmond, 226. 

Capitol (west front), 560. 

Capture of Fort Pillow, 475. 

Capture of Mr. Davis, 535. 

Cavalier Soldier, 48. 

Chalmers, J. R. , Brig.-Gen. C. S. A.,, 

538. 
Charleston, S. C, 204. 
Charleston, Siege of (map), 175. 
Charter Oak, 77. 
Cheatham, B. F., Maj.-Gen. C. S. A., 

514. 
Church at Hartford, 1638, 57. 
Churchill, T. J., Maj.-Gen. C. S. A., 

457. 
Clarke, George Rogers, 197. 
Clarke's March to Vincennes (with 

poi-trait), 199. 
600] 



Illustrations and Maps. 



601 



Clay, Heni-y,, 278. 

Clayton, H. D., Maj.-Gen. C. S. A., 

513. 
Cleburne, P. R., i\Iaj.-Gen. C. S. A., 

493. 
Cleveland, Grover, 568. 
Clingman, Thomas L., Brig.-Gen. C. 

S. A. , 504. 
Cobb, Howell. Maj.-Gen. C. S. A., 

489. 
Cobb. T. R. R., Brig.-Gen. C. S. A., 

538. 
Cockrell, F. M.. Brig.-Gen. C. S. A., 

538. 
Colonial Mansion, 147. 
Colquitt, A. H., Brig.-Gen. 0. 8. A., 

474. 
Columbia, Destruction of. 518. 
Columbus, 10. 

Coming of Lord Delaware. 28. 
Confederate Battle Flag, 369. 
Confederate Flag, 368. 
Confederate States (map), between pp. 

352 and 353. 
Cook, Philip, Brig.-Gen. C. S. A., 

538. 
Cooper, Samuel. Adj. -Gen. C. S. A., 

362. 
Custer, George A.. Maj.-Gen. U. S. 

A., 503. 

D. 

Davis, Jefferson, 351. 

Davis at Fortress Monroe, 586. 

Death of La Salle, 92. 

Decatur, Com. Stephen, 262. 

Destruction of Columbia, 518. 

D' Iberville's Fort at Biloxi, 93. 

Discovery of Gold, 311. 

Drafting the Declaration, 174. 

Drake, Sir Francis, 22. 

Drayton, Wm. Henry, 172. 

Duke, Basil W., Brig.-Gen. C. S. A., 

464. 
Dupont, Samuel F., Com. V. S. N., 

356. 

E. 

Early, Jubal A., Lieut.-Gen. C. S. A., 

418. 
Early Settlements in New England 

(map), 498. 
Eariy Settlers, 60. 
Eliot, John, 52. 
Evans, N. G., Brig.-Gen. C. S. A.. 

484. 



Ewt^Il, Richard S., Lieut.-Gen C. S. 

A., 411. 
Exile of the Acadians, 127. 



F. 



Fagan, J. P., Maj.-Gen. C. S. A., 538. 
Farragut, David G., Admiral tl. S. 

N., 356. 
Field, Cyrus W. , 332. 
Firing on Fort Sumter, 357. 
Farrest, Nathan B., Lieut.-Gen. C S. 

A., 424. 
Fort Hill, Home of Calhoun, 320. 
Fort Pillow, Capture of, 475. 
Fort Pulaski, Ga., 395. 
Fort Wagner, 441. 

Foster, J. G., Maj.-Gen. U. S. A., 538. 
Franklin, Benjamin, 146. 
Franklin, W. B., Maj.-Gen. U. S. A., 

417. 
Fremont, J. C, Maj.-Gen. U. S. A., 

512. 
Fremont's Peak, 306. 
French, S. G., Maj.-Gen. ('. S. A., 492. 



Garfield. James A.. 567. 

Garnett. R. S , Brig.-Gen. C. S. A., 

370. 
Gary, M. W., Maj.-Gen. C. S. A., 516. 
Gates's Headquarters, 187. 
Gettysburg (map), 449. 
Gilmore, Q. A., Maj.-Gen. U. S. A., 

442. 
Gordon, J. B., Lieut.-Gen. C. S. A., 

522. 
Grant, Ulysses Simpson, Gen. U. S. 

A., 389. 
Grant, U. S.. Commander-in-chief U. 

S. A., 478. 
Greene, Nathanael, 328. 

H. 

Half-King, 122. 

Halleck, H. W., Maj.-Gen. U. S. A., 

380. 
Hamilton, Alexander, 241. 
Hampton, Wade, Lieut.-Gen. C. S. 

A., 519. 
Hancock, W. S., Maj.-Gen. U. S. A., 

454. 
Hardee, W. J., Lieut.-Gen. C. S. A., 

429. 
Harrison, Benjamin, 570. 
Harrison, Gen. Wm. Henry, 270. 



602 



History of the United States. 



Harvard College, 1895, 85. 

Hawley, J. R., Maj.-Gen. U. S. A., 

538. 
Hayne, Robert Young, 286. 
Hays, H. T., Brig.-Gen. C. S. A., 519. 
Hemy, Patrick, 143. 
Hermitage, Home of Andrew Jack- 
son. 298 
Heth, Hemy, Maj.-Gen. C. S. A.. 453. 
Hidden Foe, The, 52. 
Hill, Ambrose P., Lieut. -Gen. C. S. 

A., 414. 
Hill. D. H., Lieut.-Geu. C. S. A.. 438. 
Hiudman, T. C, Maj.-Gen. C. S. A., 

458. 
Hogg, J. L., Brig.-Gen. C. S. A., 527. 
Hoke, R. F.. Maj.-Gen. C. S. A., 477. 
Hood, John B., Gen. C. S. A., 304. 
Hooker, Joseph, Maj.-Gen. U. S. A., 

416. 
Houston. Gen. Samuel, 302. 
Howard, O. O., Maj.-Gen. U. B A., 

470. 
Hull, Capt. Isaac, 228. 
Humphreys. A. A., Maj.-Gen. U. S. 

A.. 523. 
Humphries, B. R., Brig.-Gen. C. S. 

A.. 460. 
Hxmter, David >Iaj.-Gen. U. S A.. 

434. 



Indian Accoutrements, 195. 

Indian Attack, 46. 

Indian Child in Cradle, 243. 

Indian Mound in West Virginia, 19. 

Indians, 155. 

Indians and their Prisoners, 101. 

Indian Tribes (map), between pp. 16 

and 17. 
Indian Village, 16. 
Indian Weapons, 15. 
Inventions, 572. 



Jackson, Gen. Andrew, 271. 
Jackson Mommient at New Orleans, 

275. 
Jackson ]\Ionument, 447. 
Jackson, T. J., Lieut. -Gen. C. S. A., 

364. 
Jackson, T. J., Lieut. -Gen. C. S. A., 

with autograph, 377. 
Jasper replacing the flag, 176. 
Jefferson, Thomas, 174. 



Johnson, Bradley T., Brig.-Gen. ( . S. 

A., 501. 
Johnson, Edward, Maj.-Gen. C. S. A., 

402. 
Johnston, Albert Sidney, Gen. C. S. 

A., 387. 
.lohnston, Joseph E. , Gen. C. S. A., 

364. 
Jones, John Paul. 238. 



Kemper, J. L., Maj.-Gen. C. S. A., 

448. 
Kennedy, J. D.. Brig.-Gen. C. S. A., 

538. 
Kershaw, J. B., Maj.-Gen. C. S. A., 

504. 

L. 
La Fayette, 182. 
Lake George (map). 129. 
Landing of Colujnbus. 10. 
Lane, J. H., Brig.-Gen. C. S. A., 527. 
Lawton, A. R. , Brig.-Gen. C. S. A., 

488. 
Leaving Home, 363. 
Lee, Fitzhugh, Maj.-Gen. C. S. A., 

523. 
Lee, Henry, 183. 
Lee Leaving Appomattox, 531. 
Lee, Richard Henry, 153. 
Lee, Robert E., Lieut.-Gen. C. S. A., 

364. 
Lee, Robert E., Commander-in-chief 

C. S. A., with autograph. 401. 
Lee. Stephen D., Lieut.-Gen. C. S. 

A., 474. 
Lee, W. H. F., Maj.-Gen. C. S. A., 

540. 
Lincoln. Abraham, 384. 
Locke, John, 70. 
Logan, John A., Maj.-Gen. U. S. A,, 

458. 
Longstreet, James C Lieut.-Gen. C. 

S. A., 364. 
Loi-mg, W. W., Maj.-Gen. C. S. A., 

459. 
Lowrey, M. P., Brig.-Gen. C. S. A., 

461. 

M. 

MeClellan, George B., :\Iaj.-Gon. U. 

S. A,. 408. 
MeCuUoeh, B., Brig.-Gen. C. S. A., 

380. 
McDowell, L.'win, Maj.-Gen. U. S. A., 
538. 



Illustrations and Maps. 



603 



McLaws, L., Maj.-Gen. C. S. A., 445. 

McLeau House, 580. 

Madison, James, 239. 

Magruder, J. B., Maj.-Gen. C. S. A., 

440. 
Mahone, Wm., Brig. -Gen. C. S. A., 

497. 
Manassas, Second, an episode in the 

battle of, 413. 
Marion, Francis, 207. 
Marion's Dinner to the British Officer, 

212. 
Marmaduke, J. S., Maj.-Gen. 0. S. A., 

538. 
Marshall, John, 256. 
Martello Tower. Tybee Island, 115. 
Maury, D. H., Maj.-Gen. C. S. A., 

495. 
jMaury, IMatthew Fontaine, 329. 
Maxey, S. B. , Brig. -Gen. C. S. A. , 540. 
Meade, G. G., Maj.-Gen. U. S. A,, 451. 
Meigs, M. C. Brig. -Gen. U. S. A.. 

538. 
Monroe, James, 276. 
Montcalm, 132. 
Montgomery, 228. 

Montieello, the Home of Jefferson, 221. 
Morgan, Daniel, 168. 
Morgan's Monument at Spartanburg, 

215. 
Morgan, J. H. , Brig.-Gen. C. S. A. , 425. 
Morgan, J. T., Brig.-Gen. C. S. A., 

528. 
Mosby, J. S., Brig.-Gen. C. S. A., 521. 
Mounds near Marietta, Ohio, 18. 
Mount Vernon, 254. 

N. 

New Orleans, 421. 
New Orleans, Battle of, 273. 
Newton, John, ]\Iaj.-Gen. U. S. A., 
540. 

O 

Oglethorpe, James Edward, 110. 
Old Church Tower at Jamestown, 83. 
Old Gateway at St. Augustine, 21. 
Old South Church, 78. 
Osceola, 292. 



Payne, W. H., Brig.-Gen. C. S. A., 

538. 
Pendleton, \Ym. N.. Brig.-Gen. C. S. 

A., 413. 
Penn, William, 73. 



Penn's Treaty , 74. 

Perry, Com. O. H., 228, 269. 

Petersburg Crater, 499. 

Petersburg to Appomattox (map), 526. 

Pettigrew, J. J., Brig.-Gen. C. S. 

A., 454. 
Philadelphia and Vicinity' (map), 75. 
Pickett, G. E. , Maj.-Gen. C. S. A. , 453. 
Pike, Albert, Brig.-Gen. C. S. A., 3i)l. 
Pilgrims of St. Mary's, 43. 
Pittsburg and Vicinity (map), 124. 
Pleasanton, A., Maj.-Gen. U. S. A., 

506. 
Pocahontas saving Smith, 26. 
Polk, James Knox, 304. 
Polk, Leonidas, Lieut.-Geu. C. S. A., 

381. 
Pope, John, Maj.-Gen. U. S. A., 413. 
Porter, David D. , Admiral U. S. N. , 

356. 
Price of a barrel of flour in 1863, 437. 
Price, Sterling, Maj.-Gen. C. S. A. , 427. 
Primitive School, 87. 
Pueblo Indian at Prayer, 17. 
Pulaski Monument, 203. 
Putnam, Israel, 228. 

a. 

Quebec, Siege of (map), 130. 



R. 



Railroad Strike, 566. 

Raleigh, Sir Walter, 23. 

Ramseur, S. D., Maj.-Gen. C. S. A., 
532 

Randolph, G. W., Brig.-Gen. C. S. 
A., 538. 

Ransom, M. W., Maj.-Gen. C. S. A., 
540. 

Ransom, Robert, Maj.-Gen. C. S. A., 
500. 

Rawlins, J. A. , Maj.-Gen.U. S. A. , 538. 

Reception by President and Mrs. Da- 
vis, 366. 

Return of the ]\Iayflower , 32. 

Rodes, R. E., Maj.-Gen. C. S. A., 481. 

Roger Williams Landing at Provi- 
dence, 35. 

Rosecrans, W. S., j\Iaj.-Gen. U. S. A., 
405. 

Ross, L. S., Brig.-Gen. C. S. A., 462. 

Ruined Home After the War, A, 539. 

Ruins of Roanoke, 24. 

Ruins of Ticonderoga, 160. 

Rutledge, Governor John, 172. 



604 



History of the United States. 



s. 

San Francisco in 1849, 313. 
Schofield, J. M., Maj.-Gen. U. S. A., 

493. 
Scott, Gen. Winfinld, 309. 
Secession Hall, 349. 
Semmes, Kaphael, Rear-Admiial C'. 

S. N., 510. 
Settlement of Savannah in 1733, 111. 
Settler's Cabin, 134. 
Settlers fleeing from the Indians, 192. 
Settlers' Wagons, 282. 
Seven Days' Battles (map), 406. 
Shelby, J. 0.,Brig.-Gen. C. S. A., 509. 
Sheridan, Philip, Maj.-Gen. U. S. A., 

356. 
Sherman, W. T., Gen. U. S. A., 356. 
Sickles, D. E. , Maj.-Gen. U. S. A. , 452. 
Smith, E. Kirby, Gen. C. S. A.. 426. 
Smith, G. W., Maj.-Gen. C. S. A., 493. 
Smith, Capt. John, 25. 
Smith, Wm., Maj.-Gen. C. S. A., 540. 
Some of our Heroes — Perry, Mont- 
gomery, Greene, Putnam, Jones, 

Hull, 228. 
Spiking Guns at Island No. 10, 393. 
Spotswood crossing the Blue Ridge, 107 
Stephens, Alexander H., 353. 
Stewart, A. P., Lieut. -Gen. C. S. A., 

486. 
St. John's Church, 158. 
Stuart, J. E. B., Lieut. -Gen. C, S. A., 

405. 
Stuyvesant, Gov. Peter, 68. 
Sumter, Thomas, 208. 



Taliaferro, W. B., ]\Laj.-Gen. C. S. A., 

540. 
Tatnall, Josiah, Com. C. S. N., 510. 
Taylor, Richard, Lieut.-Gen. C. S. A., 

476. 
Taylor, Gen. Zachary, 317. 
Tecumseh, 267. 
" There stands Jackson like a stone 

wall!" 373. 
Thomas, G. H.,Maj.-Gen.U. S.A.,356. 
Thirteen Original States (map), 152. 
Ticonderoga, Ruins of. 160. 
Toombs, Robert, Secretary of State 

in Confederate Cabinet, Brig.- 

Gen. C. S. A.,534. 
Trenton (map), 179. 
Trimble, I. R. , Maj.-Gen. C. S. A. , 538. 
Tyler, John, 398. 



V. 

LTnited States (map), between pp. 256 

and 257. 
University of Virginia, 265. 



Van Buren, Martin, 294. 
Vespucci, Amerigo, 13. 
Virginia attacking the Federal Fleet, 
The, 397. 

W. 

Walker, J. A., Brig. -Gen. C. S. A., 

538. 
Wallace, Lew, Maj.-Gen. U. S. A., 

390. 
Walthall, E. C, Maj.-Gen. C. S. A., 

494. 
Warren, Gen., 164. 
Warren, G. K., Maj.-Gen. U. S. A., 

456. 
Washington, George, 156. 
Washington's Birthplace, 162. 
Washington's Inauguration, 245. 
Washington taking command of the 

Army, Frontispiece. 
Wayne at Stony Point, 202. 
Webster. Daniel, 287. 
Webster's Birthplace, 288, 
Wesley, John. 113. 
Wharton, J. A., Maj.-Gen. C. S. A., 

429. 
Wheeler, Joseph, Lieut.-Gen. C. S. 

A., 516. 
Whitefield, George. 114. 
Whiting, W. H. C, Maj.-Gen. C. S. 

A., 515. 
Whitney, Eli, 258. 
William and Mary College founded 

1693, 109. 
Winder, Charles S.,Brig.-Gen. C. S. 

A. , 538. 
Withers, J. M., Maj.-Gen. C. S. A., 

540. 
Wolfe, Gen. James, 131. 
Wool, J. E., Maj.-Gen. U. S. A., 540. 
Wright, M. J., Brig. -Gen. C. S. A., 

509. 



Yorktown, vicinity of (map), 223. 



Zollicoffer, F. K.. Brig.-Gen. C. S. 
A., 382. 



INDEX 



Abbertou's ReBolutious, 3i»0. 

Abercrombie, General, 131). 

Abolitionists, Petitions of, 289, 290, 
299. • 

Acadians, Exile of, 127. 

Adams, John, 1 73, 244. 251 ; Presi- 
dent, 2o5 ; death of, 284. 

Adams, John Quincy, 276 ; President, 
283; 287, 299: death of , 313. 

Alabama becomes a State, 278 ; read- 
mitted, 548. 

Alabama, The, 432, 510; Claims, 557. 

Alaska, purchase of, 555. 

Alien and Sedition laws, 255. 

Allen, Ethan, 160. 

Algonqnins, 20. 

America, discovery of , 9-12; South, 
11; North, 13; name of, 11. 

American Revolution, Cause of, 138. 

American System, 286. 

Amelia Court House, 526. 

Amendment XIII., 541; XIV., 543; 
XV., 548. 

Andre, Execution of, 207. 

Andros, 76, 77. 

Annapolis Convention, 236. 

Apaches, 15. 

Appomattox, Lee at, 528; meeting oi 
Grant and Lee at, 529; surrender 
at. 531. 

Arizona, 17, 383. 

Arkansas becomes a State, 393 ; re- 
admitted, 548. 

Arnold, Benedict. 168, 186, 187; at 
Philadelphia, 204 ; treachery of ,306. 

Army of Occupation, 303. 

Armies, three in Mexico, 305; size of, 
in 1864, 491. 

Ashby, General, death of. 404. 

Assassination of Presid't Lincoln. 533. 

Atlanta, Siege of, 489; Sherman at,490. 

Atlantic Telegraph, 555. 

Athabascans, 15. 

Austria, trouble with, 334. 

Aztecs, 17. 

Bacon, Nathaniel, rebellion, 60-63; 
defeats Indians at Bloody Run, 64; 
death of. 65. 

Bahamas, discovery of, 11. 

Balboa's discovery, 13. 



Ball's Bluff, 376. 

Banks, General, 403, 403, 423, 476. 

Baltimore, Lord, 43, 46. 

Beauregard, General, 357, 369, 371. 
393, 443, 483, 495, 496. 

Belmont, battle, of, 383. 

Bennington, battle of. 185. 

Berkeley, Sir Wm., 45, 57, 60, 03, 05. 

Beverley, Robert, fate of, 79. 

Bienville, 131. 

Biloxi, settlement at, 93. 

Big Bethel, 370. 

Bill of Rights, 174. 

Bishop, First Prot. Epis., 359. 

Black Friday. 556. 

Black Hawk War, 391. 

Blackstocks, Tarleton defeated at, 313. 

Blennerhasset, 364. 

Blockade, 365; stringent. 394. 

Bloody Angle, The, 481. 

Boone, Daniel, 135, 149, 150. 

Booth, John Wilkes, 533, 534. 

Boston, Massacre, 143 ; Tea Party, 
144; attack on, 108. 

Bouquet's victory, 134. 
Braddock's defeat, 138. 
Bragg, General. 393. 433, 428; ad- 
vance into Kejitucky. 436 ; falls 
back to Tennessee. 437 ; at Chatta- 
nooga, 465; at Wilmington, 515. 
Brandywine, Battle of, 183. 
Breed's Hill, 163. 

Breckinridge, J. C. , 347. 431. 467, 483. 
Brooke, John Mercer, 330, 396. 
Brooks, Preston. 337. 
Brown, John, in Kansas. 337; raid, 

330-338. 
Buchanan. James, 338 ; President, 333. 
Buckner, General. 383. 389, 390. 
Buell, General, 391,430. 
Buena Vista, battle of, 307. 
Bummers, 506. 
Burnside, General, 415, 465. 
Burgoj-ne, invasion of New York, 

184; surrender of, 187. 
Burr, Aaron, 251; conspiracy of, 364. 
Bunker Hill, battle of, 163-165. 
Butler, General B. F., 369, 431, 433, 

478, 495; at Fort Fisher, 514. 
Cabot, John and Sebastian, 12 



[605] 



606 



Index. 



Cabral, 13. 

Calhoun, John C, 276, 283, 286, 290, 
318 ; death of. 319. 

California, 305, 320 ; gold in, 311. 

Calvert, 42, 43. 

Camden, battle of, 209. 

Campaign of strategy, 456. 

Canonchet, 52, 53. 

Caroliuas, 12, 69-72. 

Carpet-baggers and scalawags, 546; 
in office, 549, 552. 

Cartier, Jacques, 12. 

Carver, John, 33. 

Cavaliers, education among, 84. 

Catastrophe on Princeton, 300. 

Cedar Creek, battle of, 504. 

Cedar Mountain, battle of, 411. 

Centennial Exposition, 561. 

Cerro Gordo, Pass of, 309. 

Chambersburg, burning of, 503. 

Champlaiu, 22, 89. 

Chancellorsville, battle of, 443 447. 

Charleston, 71, 175, 205, 441; fall, 
517. 

Chapultepec, 310. 

Charter Oak, 77. 

Cherokees, 20, 194, 195. 

Chicago, strike in, 571 ; fire, 557. 

Chickamauga, battle of, 466^68. 

Chinese Embassy, 555. 

Chippewa, battle of, 271. 

Churches, advance of, 259. 

Cincinnati, Society of, 236. 

Civil Service Reform, 559. 

Clarke, George Rogers, 157, 197-300. 

Clay, Henry, 278, 283, 283, 286, 299, 
322. 

Cleveland, Grover, President, 568, 
570, 571. 

Clinton, Sir Henry, 161, 177,201, 305. 

Coal, anthracite, first used, 257. 

Cold Harbor, battles of, 407, 483. 

Colonies, condition of, 1760, 145; 
under William and Mary, 100; Con- 
gress of, 142; education in, 145; 
Queen Elizabeth's, 23. 

Colonial "War, causes of, 123 ; results 
of, 132. 

Colorado admitted, 561. 

Columbia, burning of, 518. 

Columbian Exposition, 570. 

Columbus, Christopher, 10, 11. 

Columbus, Ky., 383, 391. 

Committees of Correspondence, 143. 

Condition of armies, 1863, 472. 

Condition of the countiy in 1865, 538. 

Confederation of 1774, 234. 



Confederacy, Southern, conscription, 
423; Acts of Congress, 376; crui^ 
sers, 482, 510 ; condition of, 512. 

Confederate soldiers, 362: losses, 423. 

Congress, 1st Continental, 152; 2d, 
160; 1st Federal, 246: 2d, 251. 

Constitution, signed and ratified, 241. 

Constitutional Government, 244; 
rights. 316. 

Corinth, battle of, 426. 

Comwallis, Lord, 180, 214, 215; in 
Virginia, 219 ; flirrender of, 224. 

Couch, General, 445. 

Courage of the Southerners in de- 
feat, 539. 

Cowpens, battle of, 214. 

Credit IMobilier, 558. 

Culpeper , Governor of Virginia, 65, 66. 

Dahlgren, Colonel Ulric,- 477. 

Dale, Sir Thomas, 28. 

Dare, Virginia, 23. 

Davis, Jefferson, 308 ; sketch of, 352 : 
after the surrender, 535 ; capture of, 
535; imprisonment of, 536; later 
life of, 537; death and interment, 537. 

Davis's Resolutions, 346. 

Decatur, Stephen. 262, 268, 275. 

De Grasse, Comte, 224. 

De Kalb, Baron, 183. 

Delaware, Lord, coming of, 28; set- 
tlement of ,40 ; a separate colony, 76. 

Demarcation, Line of, 13. 

Departure of Lee and Grant from Ap- 
pomattox, 531. 

De Soto, 14. 

D'Estaing, Count, 193, 202, 203. 

Destruction in Georgia, 506; in South 
Carolina, 516. 

Devotion of Confederate women, 420. 

D'Iberville, 93. 

Difficulty of equipping armies, 367. 

Discovery, legends of, 9; right of, 13. 

Disparity between North and South, 
362. 

Donelson, Fort, 387; capture of, 390. 

Doniphan's march, 307. 

Dorr's Rebellion, 299. 

Douglas, Stephen A., 326. 

Drake, Sir Francis, 22; voyage around 
the world, 33. 

Dred Scott case, 334. 

Duel of Hamilton and Burr, 363. 

Dunmore, Lord, Governor of Virginia, 
153; war against Indians, 155; re- 
moves powder, 158; deposed, 169; 
declares war on Virginia, 170. 

Dupont, Admiral, 384, 443. 



Index. 



607 



Dustin, Mrs., story of, 101. 

Dutch Settlements, 38, 40. 

Eads, Captain, 566. 

Early, General, 443 446; moves into 

Maryland, 501 ; before Washing- 
ton, 502. 
Earthquake in Charleston, 569. 
Eaton, General, 285. 
Electoral Commission, 563. 
Electricity, 574. 
Eiiot, John, 51, 52. 
Embargo, 253, 264. 
Eudicott, Governor, 34, 50. 
End of tlie War , numbers engaged ,532. 
Enterprise of the South, 367. 
Enthusiasm in the South, 367. 
Eric the Red, 9. 
Erie Canal, 283. 
. Eries, 20. 
Esquimaux, 18, 
Eutaw Springs, battle of, 217. 
Ewell, General, 403, 411, 414, 447, 

448; captures AVinchester, 448; in 

Maryland and Pennsylvania, 449, 

451, 527. 
Farewell Words, 577. 
Farragut, Admiral, 421 ; occupies 

Mobile Bay, 490. 
Federalist, 241. 
Federal Convention, 237 ; members of, 

237; sompromises of, 239, 240; 

regulations of, 240. 
Federal forces to surround Lee, 521. 
Ferguson, Colonel, 210-212. 
Fillmore, Millard. 317, 319. 
Financial crash, 294, 558. 
Five Forks, battle of, 522, 
Five Nations, 20 ; treaty with, 66. 
Fishing Creek, 209. 
Florida, discovery of, 13, 14 ; Ije- 

comes a State, 303 ; re-admitted, 

548 ; The, 432, 510 : destruction of 

the, 511. 
Floyd, General, 388, 390. 
Force Bill, 288, 553. 
Forrest, Gen., 389, 464,41)2; sketch 

of, 424. 
Fort Donelson, 387, 390. 
Fort Fisher, 514, 515; capture of, 515. 
Fort Heniy, 387, 388. 
Fort Pillow, 475. 
Fort Steadman, 522. 
Franklin, battle of, 493: Benjamin, 

117, 122, 145, 237, 238 ; General, 416- 
Fredericksburg, battle of, 4 7-419; 

results of, 419. 
Freedmen's Bureau, 542, 550. 



Fremont, General, 305, 806, 403, 511. 
French, settlements. 21 ; claim the 
Ohio, 121; coming of fleet, 193; 
in North and West, 89, 121 ; mis- 
sionaries, 89 : names in Mississippi 
Valley, 93. 

Frobisher, 22. 

Frontenac, Count, 100. 

Fugitive Slave Law, 323. 

Gadsden, Christopher, 153, 172. 

Gage, General, 158, 161, 163. 

Gag Law, 290. 

Galveston, capture of, 440, 441. 

Garfield, President, 566; assassi- 
nated, 567. 

Garrison, William Lloyd, 289. 

Gates, General, 186, 188, 209, 213. 

Geiger, Emily, 217. 

Genet, Citizen, 252. 

George L, 104; IL, 111; King 
George's War, 116. 

Georgia, settlement of, 110; a royal 
province, 115 ; a State, 241 ; re-ad- 
mitted, 548. 

German town, battle of 18?. 

Gettysburg, battle of, 450-455; ••f- 
fects, 455 ; losses in, 455. 

Gibbon, General, 455. 

Gilbert, Sir Humphrey, 22. 

Gold, discovery of, 311 ; price of, 556 ; 
resumption of specie payment, 566. 

Goliad, massacre of, 301. 

Gordon, General, 480, 522, 529. 

Gosnold, Bartholomew, voyage to 
New England, 23 ; to Virguaia, 24. 

Gosport Na-s^-Yard, 363. 

Grand Model", 70, 71. 

Grant, General U. S. , 382, 889, 
424,431, 457, 469; commander-m- 
chief, 477; pursuit of Lee, 529- 
campaign against Richmond, losse> 
in, 483 ; elected President, 648 ; re- 
elected, 559. 

Great Bridge, battle of, 170. 

Greene, General Nathanael, 161, 166; 
commanding in South, 213-217. 

Grinnell Expeditions, 320. 

Guilford C!. H., battle of, 216. 

Halleck, General, 380. 391, 411, 413, 
450. 

Half King, 122. 

Hamilton. Alexander, 237, 239,241; 
financial jiolicy of, 248. 

Hampton Roads, battle in, 396. 

Hanno, 9. 

Hancock, John, 159, 249. 

Hancock, Gen., 445, 451, 479, 567. 



608 



Index, 



Hardee, Gen., 392, 429, 487. 
Harper's Ferry, 363 ; captured by 

HaiTisoii. Gen.Wm. Heury, 267,270, 
275 ; President, 297 ; death of, 297. 

Harrison, Benjamin, President; 569. 

Hartford Convention, 274. 

Harvard College, founded, 85. 

Hawkins, Sir John, 29. 

Hayne, Robert Y., 286. 

Hayes, President, 562, 563, 565. 

Hayti, 11 ; refugees from, 257. 

Hell's Half-Acre, 430. 

Helper's Manifesto, 336. 

Henry, Fort. 387, 388. 

Henry, Patrick. 139, 197, 200; reso- 
lutions, 141; eloquence, 142, 158; 
152, 153, 173; first Governor of 
Virginia. 174. 

Henry VH., 10. 

Hill, Gen. A. P., 407, 414, 415, 418, 
445, 447, 448, 451, 479 ; death of ,528. 

Hill, General D. H., 407. 414, 432. 

Holly Springs, burning of, 431, 432. 

Hood, General, 414,452, 487; in com- 
mand, 488 ; advance into Tennessee, 
491, 494. 

Hooker, General, 416, 419; in com- 
mand in Virginia, 442; at Chan- 
cellorsville, 443, 444, 446; at Chat- 
tanooga, 469. 

Horseshoe Bend, battle of, 271. 

Houston, Gen. Sam, 301, 302, 328. 

Howard, General, 470. 

Howe, Gen., 161, 177, 178: enters 
Chesapeake, 183; occupies Phila- 
delphia, 183. 

Hudson Bay. 15. 

Hudson, Henry, 22, 88. 

Huguenots. 21, 71. 

Hunter, General, 483, 484. 

Hutchinson, Anne. 36, 40. 

Illmois, a county of Virginia, 200; a 
State, 278. 

Lmniigration, in the North, 821 ; in 
the South, 322. 

Impatience of North, 371. 

Indiana becomes a State, 275. 

Indians, 11; arts and habits of, 16; 
appearance of, 15 ; attacks of, 50, 
59, 100, 102. 105, 109, 194; barba- 
rous, 16; half-civilized, 17; traits 
of, 19; different races, 20; massa- 
cre in Virginia, 30. 31 ; mounds, 18, 
19; origin of, 18; treaties with. 06, 
74. 112; lands, purchase of, 265. 

Intenial Revenue, 557. 



Iowa becomes a State, 312. 

" Irrepressible Conflict," 819. 

" Ironclad oath," 546. 

Island No. 10,391, 393. 

luka, 420. 

Jackson, Andrew. General. 271,272, 
275,277; President. 285; Cabinet, 
285; and United States Bank, 288; 
death, 293. 

Jackson, General T. J., " Stonewall," 
372, 877; sketch of, 878; Valley 
campaign, 4;,02-404; at Richmond, 
405: at Second Manassas, 412; at 
Fredericksburg, 418; at Chancel- 
lorsville, 444; death of, 447. 

James I, 24, 25; 11,76, 78. 

.lames River, 25. 

Jamestown, settlement of, 25 ; fire in, 
27 ; burning of, 64. 

Jasper, Sergeant, 176. 

Jay, John, first Chief -Justice, 249; 
treaty, 258. 

Jefferson, Thomas, 173, 174; Presi- 
dent, 261 ; death of. 284. 

Johnson, Andrew. 484 ; position in 
1865, 540 ; proclamation of, 541 ; 
vetoes, 548; strife with Congress, 
542, 544; impeachment, 547 ; acquit- 
tal, 548. 

Johnson, Sir William. 127, 129, 185. 

Johnston, General Albert Sidney, 834, 
363, 887. 890; death of. 392. 

Johnston, General Joseph E. , 363, 369, 
371, 400, 458. 402.532. 

"Joint Rule." 562. 

Jones, John Paul, 226, 227. 

Kanawha, Great, Battle of. 156. 

"Kansas, Bibles," 826; Kansas-Ne- 
braska Bill, 826 ; struggle ovn- 385. 

Kearsarge, the, 510. 

Kellogg, 553. 

Kerustown, battle of, 398, 

Kentucky, settlement of, 150; county 
of Virginia, 196 ; becomes a State, 
249 ; neutrality of, 380. 

Kilpatrick's raid, 477. 

King's Mountain, battle of, 211. 

King Philip's War, 52, 53. 

Know-Nothiug Paity, 828. 

Koszta, 824. 

Ku Klux Klan, 551. 

Labor Ijaws, 542. 

Labrador, 12. 

La Fayette. General, 182, 204 ; sent to 
Virginia, 218; second visit, 282. 

La Salle, explorations of, 91, 92; 
death of, 92. 



Index. 



609 



Laurens, Henjy. 171, 172. 

Lawrence, James. 269. 

Lee, Gen. Charles, 161 ; disobedience 
of, 178 ; dismissed from army, 191 

Lee, Richard Henry, 173. 

Lee, Heniy, "Light Horse Harry," 
182, 208, 400. 

Lee, Fitzhugh. 522. 

Lee, Robert E., 309, 338. 363, 370; 
sketch of, 400; in Maryland, 413: 
returns to Virginia, 415; moves 
north, 448 ; " Lee to the Rear," 479 ; 
commander-in-chief, 520 ; plans to 
leave Petersburg, 521 ; retreat, 526 ; 
surrender, 529 ; a College President, 
540 ; death of, 557. 

Leif, 9. 

Leisler, 80. 

Lewis, Andrew, 155. 

Lewis and Clarke's explorations, 263. 

Letcher, John, Governor of Virgi- 
nia, 361, 364, 371. 

Letters of marque, 172. 

Lexington, battle of, 158. 

Lincoln, Abraham, 347; President, 
355; Cabinet, 356; view of slavei-y, 
360, 434 ; calls for 75,000 men, 361 ; 
proclamations, 365, 435, 436, 533; 
militaiy orders, 410, 413; re-elec- 
tion of, 511 ; visits Petersburg and 
Richmond, 525 ; assassination, 533 ; 
funeral honors, 535. 

Lincoln, Gen., 186, 104, 203, 205. 224. 

Life among the rich in the colonies, 
146; among the middle classes, 147. 

Logan, 155. 

Long Island, battle of, 177. 

Longstreet, General, 407, 412, 416, 
419, 443. 447, 448, 451, 456, 466. 

Lookout Mountain, 466 ; battle, 470. 

Lotteries, 259. 

Louisiana settled, 121 : purchased, 
262 ; a State, 275 ; re-admitted, 548 ; 
two governments, 662. 

Loyal Leagues, 650. 

L^"ttleton'^ War on Cherokees, 133. 

Madison, Jas., 238, 239, 241, 242, 243; 
President, 265, 266 ; death, 292. 

Madoc, 9. 

Magellan, vovage of, 14. 

Magruder, Gej.. , 369, 399,407, 440,441. 

Maine, settlement of, 37; a State, 281. 

Manassas Junction, 369 ; First battle 
of, 371-375; Second battle 4 12, 413. 

Man.sfield, battle of, 476. 

Mar«ro Polo, 10. 

.Marion. General, 175, 207, 212. 
39 



Marshall, John, 170; Chief -Justice, 
256; death of, 292. 

Maryland, settlement of, 41, 42; 
naming of, 42 ; religions freedom 
of, 42, 43; growth, 44: yields to 
Parliament, 48. 

Marye's Hill, 418. 

Massachusetts, settlement of, 32; 
Puiitaus in, 33; growth, 36; sub- 
jection of, 67; settlers, sketch, 84. 

Maskoki or Muskogees, 20. 

Massasoit, 33. 

Material Development, 257. 

Mamy, Matthew F., 329, 330. 

McClellan, General. 369, 370, 376; 
supersedes General Scott, 384 , in 
Virginia, 398, 408-410,^413, 415. 

McCrae, Miss, murder of r 185. 

McCulloch, General, 380,391. 

McDonough's victory, 272. 

McDowell, Gen. 371, 372. 

McPherson, General, 458, 477, 488; 
death of, 489. 

Meade, General, 450, 455, 456, 478. 

Melendez, 21. 

Mexico, advance on City of, 310; cap- 
ture, 310; conquest of , 13. 

Mexican boimdaries, 304; War, be- 
giiming of, 304. 

Michigan becomes a State, 293. 

Minute Men, 154. 

Missionary Ridge, 466 ; battle of, 470. 

Mississippi, discovery of the, 14; ex- 
ploration and settlement, 90-94 ; be- 
comes a State, 278; jetties, 566. 

Missouri, Question of, 280; Compro- 
mise, 281 ; become? a State, 281. 

Modoc War, 560. 

Mohegans, 20. 

Monitor, 397, 399. 

Monmouth C. H., battle of, 190. 

Monmouth's followers sold as slaves 
79. 

Montcalm, captures English forts, 
129: death of, 132. 

Monroe, James, President, 276; Doc- 
trine, 282. 

MonocAcy Bridge, battle of, 502. 

Monterey, capttire of, 305. 

Morgan, General Daniel, 167, 168, 186, 
187, 214. 

Morgan, General John, 424; sketch 
of, 425; raid, 464, 465; death, 509. 

Mormons, 333 ; difficulty with, 334. 

Mon'istown, winter at, 203. 

Moultne, General William, 175, 176; 
Fort, 176, 354. 



610 



Index. 



Mound Builders, 18. 

Muhlenburg, Colonel, 175, 183. 

Murfreesboro. battle of, 428-431. 

Narragansetts. 20. 

Nashville, battle of, 493. 

Nelson, General Thomas, 173: Gov- 
ernor of Virginia, 223 ; house at 
Yorktown, 224. 

New England, settlement of, 32; 
United Colonies of, 50: sympathizes 
with Cromwell, 53 ; after the Resto- 
ration, 67. 

Newfoundland, 12, 22. 

New Hampshire, settlement of, 37. 

New Jersey. 69. 

New Market, battle of, 482. 

New Mexico, 311,383. 

New Nether] and, 38 : becomes New 
York, 63. 

New Orleans, battle of, 273; capture 
of, 421 423. 

Newport, Capt. , Christopher, 25, 27. 

Newspaper, first, 117 ; increase of 
newspapers, 145, 574. 

Non-Importation Acts, 148. 

North Carolina, settlements in, 69; 
re-admission, 548. 

Northwest Passage, 22. 

Oglethorpe, Gen., 110: attacks Span- 
iards, 114; death of, 115. 

O'Hara, General, 224. 

Ohio Company, of Virginia, 122 ; of 
New England, 243. 

Ohio becomes a State, 26* >. 

Olustee, battle, of, 473. 

Omnibus Bill, 317. 

'• On to Richmond," 416. 

Opecancanough, 26, 31. 

Oregon, 23 ; Question. 800 ; becomes 
a State, 335. 

Oriskany, battle of, 184. 

Pacific, discovery, 13; railroad, 556. 

Packingham, Sir Edward, 273. 

Paducah, 382. 

Palo Alto, battle of, 304. 

Palos, 10. 

Patents to Virginia and Plymouth 
companies, 24. 

Paris, treaty of, 132. 

Party Conventions, 285. 

Peace, of Ryswick, 101 ; of Utrecht, 
102; Congress, 353; negotiations, 
512; Conference, 519. 

Pea Ridge or Elkhom, battle of, 391. 

Pegram, General, 520. 

Pemberton, Gen., 428, 458, 459, 461. 

Pendleton, Gen., 375. 413. 448. 



Penn, William, 73 : treatj- with In- 
dians, 74, 75. 

Pennsylvania, naming of, 73; settle- 
tlement of, 73 ; growth of, 75. 

Pequot War, 37. 

Perry, M. C,, expedition to Japan,320. 

Perry, O. H., 269. 

Periyville. battle of, 427. 

Petersburg, attack on, 495 ; siege of, 
496-501 ; condition of, 514 ; evacua- 
tion of, 523, 525. 

Personal Liberty Laws, 325. 

Pettigrew's Charge, 454. 

Pierce, Franklin, 323; President, 324. 

Pickett's Charge, 453. 

Pipe of Peace, 20. 

Pitt, William, 129. 

Pittsburgh, 130. 

Pizarro, 13. 

Philadelphia, founding of , 74 ; evacua- 
tion of, 190. 

Pike, General, 391. 

Pinchbeck, 553. 

Polk, Bishop, 381, 387, 392, 427, 466- 
468, 474, 486 ; death, 487. 

Polk, J. K., 302; President, 303, 304. 

Point Comfort, 25. 

Pocahontas, saves Sraith'.s life, 26 ; 
saves the Colony, 27 ; marriage and 
death, 30. 

Ponce.de Leon, 13. 

Pontiac's War, 134, 

Pope, General, 410-413, 424. 

Population, growth of, 104. 

Port Royal, capture of, 384. 

Powhatan, King, 25, 26, 30. 

Price, General, 880, 391; invades 
Missouri, 508. 

Princeton, battle of, 181. 

Prisoners, exchange of, 438. 

Private soldiers, valor of, 375. 

Pulaski, Count. 182, 203. 

Puritans, coming of, 33; laws of, 34; 
a peculiar people, 85; sympathize 
with Cromwell, 53. 

Putnam, General, 159. 

Quakers, rise of, 54; persecuted, 55, 
56 ; in Pennsylvania, 73, 78 ; peti- 
tion to abolish slavery, 248. 

Quebec, capture of, 131, 132. 

Queen Anne's War, 102. 

Railroads, opening of, 291. 

Railroad strikes, 565, 571. 

Raisin River, battle of, 269. 

Raleigh, Sir Walter, expeditions, 23. 

Ream's Station, fight at, 498. 

Reconstruction. 542. 544, 549, 552, 554. 



Index. 



611 



liecuperatiou of South, 572. 
Republican Party, 328. 

Restriction of Press, 378. 

Revolution, causes of, 138-144; open- 
ing of, 157; end of, 325; United 
States navj' in, 226, 227 ; condition 
of country after, 233. 

Rhode Island, .settled, 35; charter 
of, 67, 76. 

Rich Mountain, battle of, 370. 

Richmond, Confederate Capital, 366 ; 
defence of, 404 ; evacuation of, 533 ; 
riot and fire in, 524. 

Richmond, Ky. , battle of, 426. 

Right of search, 252, 264. 

Ringgold, Major, 306. 

*' Rings" in the cities, 558. 

Riot in Baltimore, 364; Boston, 326. 

Roanoke, Colony of, 33 ; Island, cap- 
ture of, 395. 

Robertson, James, 150. 

Rochambeau, Count, 306. 

Rocky Mountains, 15, 305. 

Rolfe, John, 30. 

Rosecrans, General 370, 424, 428, 
429, 465, 466. 

Sabine Pass, 441. 

Sailor's Creek, battle of, 527. 

Sailing's exploration, 119. 

Salzburger settlement, 112. 

San Jacinto, battle of, 302. 

Santa Anna, General, 301, 807. 

Santa Maria, 10. 

Saratoga, battles near, 186, 187. 

Savannah, settlement of. Ill ; Spanish 
attack on, 115; taken by British, 
193: siege of, 203; fall of , 608. 

Scarcity in South, .437, 497, 520. 

Schuyler, General, 161, 178, 184, 186. 

Scotch in Georgia, 113. 

Scotch-Irish Settlers, 119. 

Scott, General, 371,275,309,384,400. 

Secession, necessity of, 348 ; of South. 
Carolina, 349 ; of Gulf States, 349 ; 
of Virginia, North Carolina, Ten- 
nessee and Arkansas, 361. 

Sectional Hostility, 278. 

Sedgwick, General, 443, 446, 453. 

Semmes, Captain Raphael, 432, 510. 

Settlers, character of, 82-86. 

Seven Pines, battle of, 400. 

Seven Days' Fight, 407-409. 

Sevier, John, 150. 

Sharpsburg, battle of, 414. 

Shays' insurrection, 236. 

Shenandoah, the, surrendered, 511. 

Sheridan, Gen., 482, 484, 504, 552. 



Sherman, Gen,, 392, 431,402,468; at 
Meridian, 474; return to Vicksburg, 
476; advance on Johnston, 485; 
march to the sea, 505 ; march from 
the sea, 515-519; in North Caro- 
lina, 521, 532. 

Shiloh, battle of, 392. 

Sioux war, 561. 

Slavery, introduction of, 29 ; through- 
out the world, 29 ; in all the colo- 
nies, 86; opposition to, 148; South- 
ern view of, 279, 359 ; guaranteed by 
Constitution, 280, 358 ; continued 
agitation, 289, 314; difflculty of 
abolishing. 315; under Southern 
Confederacy, 360. 

Slave-trade, encouraged by England, 
29; extinction of, 265. 

Smith, Gen. Kirby, 373, 426. 

Smith, Capt. John, 25, 26, 27 ; names 
New England, 24 ; departure, 27. 

Smithsonian Institute, 296. 

Social distinctions, 86, 146. 

Soldiers, after the surrender, 532. 

Sons of Liberty, 141. 

South Carolina, settlement of, 70; 
Indian troubles in, 72; declares 
herself indej)endent, 172; re-ad- 
mitted to the Union, 548 ; two gov 
ernments, 562. 

South and the territories. 316 ; divided 
Into militarj^ districts, 545 ; under 
Hayes, 565 ; early literature in, 575. 

Southern Confederacy, 352; leadera, 
351 ; lack of resources, 383. 

Spanish claims, 343. 

Spotsylvania, battle at, 480. 

Spotswood, Governor, 103, 105, 106; 
crosses Blue Ridge, 106, 107; post- 
master-general of colonies, 108. 

Stamp Act, 141 ; opposition to. 141 ; 
repealed, 143. 

Standish, Captain Miles, 33. 

Stark, John, 159, 185. 

Star Spangled Banner, 272. 

" Starving Time," 27. 

State Rights Resolutions, 296 ; and 
centralization, 358. 

St. Augustine, 21, 277. 

St. Clair's defeat, 250. 

Steamships, 296. 

Steamboiit. Fitch's and Rumsey's, 
244; Fulton's, 266. 

Stony Point, storming of, 201. 

Strikes, 565. 571. 

Stuart, General J. E. B., 405, 406, 
41J ,415, 445, 448, 451 ; death of, 482. 



«612 



Index. 



Summary, 1st Period, 95-99; 2d, 
136, 137; 3d, 229-232; 4th, 340- 
345; 5th, 5T9-587. 

Sumuer, General, 416; Charles, 3^7. 

Sumter, Fort, garrisoned, 354 ; plan 
to reinforce, 356; bombardment of, 
367 ; attack on, 442 ; The, 432, 510 ; 
General, 207, 209, 217. 

Surrender, terms of, 530. 

Swanzey, attack on, 52. 

Tariff, 235. 247, 284, 288, oJU. 

Tarletou, Col., 209, 210, 213; in Vir- 
ginia. 220. 

Tatuall, Commodore, 384,399. 

Taylor, General Zachary,304, 30u,307, 
308; President. 317; death of. 319. 

Taylor, General liiohard, 476. 

Taxation, bj- England. 138; without 
representation, 142. 

Tecumseh, 267, 270. 

Telegraph, 300; submarine, 330. 

Tennessee, emigration to, 148; be- 
comes a State, 256. 

Texas, settlement of, 300; independ- 
ent, 302 ; annexation of, 302. 

Texans, Hood's, 414, 452. 

Thomas, General, 424, 429, 466, 4f>T, 
493, 521. 

Ticonderoga, capture of, 160. 

Tilden, bamuelJ. , 562. 

Tippecanoe, battle of. 267. 

Totems. 17. 

Trenton, battle of, 179. 

Tripoli, war with, 262. 

Turner. Nat, insurrection, 290. 

Tuscaroras, 20, 102. 

Two-penny Act, 139. 

Tyler, John, 297; President, 298; 
vetoes of, 299. 

Uncle Tom's Cabin. 335. 

" Underground Railroad," 326. 

United C'olonies, 161. 

United States, 174; tirst census of, 
250; bank, 288; treasury. 295; 
Congress, 1861, 376. 

University of Ya. , established, 265. 

Uprising of Protestant England. 79. 

Upshur'. Sec. , killed, 800. 

Utah. 333. 334. 

Valley Forge, winter at. 188. 

Van Buren, 285 ; President, 294. 

Van Doru, Gen., 391, 424, 426,428,431. 

Vasco de Gama, 13. 

Vera Cruz, surrender of. 309. 

Vermont becomes a State, 249. 

Vespucci, Amerigo, 12. 

Vicksburg, siegti ami capture, 457-461. 



Vigilance Committees, 312. 

Vinland the Good. 9. 

Virginia, naming of, 23 ; settlement 
of, 25; gold fever, 27; becomes a 
royal province, 81 ; fii'st legislative 
asssmbly in, 29 ; loyalty of. 46 ; re- 
ligion in, 47 ; declaration of rights, 
64 ; provision for churches and 
schools, 88; prosperity of, 108; 
settlement of Valley, 118; Conven- 
tions, 157, 169, 173; part in revolu- 
tion, 219 ; generosity of, 234 ; first 
Woodshed in 1861, 369. 

Virginia, ironclad ram, 396-399. 

Wallace, General Lew, 390, 502. 

Wallace, General W. H. L., 392. 

War of 18)2, 268. 

Warren, General, 456, 479. 

Washington, George, 118, 120, 124, 
125 ; gallantry with Braddock, 128 ; 
commander-in-chief, 161 ; conspi- 
racy against, 188; first President, 
244 ; death of, 254. 

Watauga, settlement at, 150; attack 
on, 195 ; rendezvous at Sycamore 
Shoals of. 210. 

Waxhaws, disaster at. 207. 

Wayne, "Mad Anthony," 201. 

Weather Reports, 330 ; Bureau, 560. ' 

Webster, Daniel, 286. 287, 318, 320; 
death of, 322. 

Wesleys and Whitefield, 113, 260. 

West Virginia, formed, 433 ; admitted 
to the Union. 439. 

Whiskey insurrection, 253 ; frauds,559 

White Plams, battle of, 178. 

Wilderness, battles of, 479, 480. 

Wilkes's expedition. 296 ; seizes Ma- 
son and Slidell on Trent, 385, 386. 

William and Mary, sovereigns, 80; 
College, 109. 

Williamsburg, battle of, 399. 

Williams, Roger. 35, 36, 30. 

Wilmot Proviso, 315. 

Winchester, battles at, 403. 448. 

Winthrop, John, 36, 67. 

Wisconsin becomes a State, 312. 

Woodford, Colonel, 171 ; Gen., 205. 

Wolfe, Gen., captures Quebec, 130-132 

World's Fairs, 325, 570. 

Wyoming, massacre at, 191. 

Yamacraws, 112. 

Yemassees, 104. 

Yorktown, siege and British surren- 
der at, 224 ; McClellan and Johnston 
at, 398; centennial, 567. 

Zollicoffer, General, death of, 887. 



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